IAEA Chief Urges Continued Talks on Iran Nuclear Program Amid Rising Tensions
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated in an interview with the Argentinian newspaper “El Nacional” that Iran possesses approximately 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent, a level close to that needed for military applications, necessitating close technical monitoring.
Grossi noted that the complete return of IAEA inspectors to Iran and the resumption of monitoring activities under existing agreements are crucial for providing credible assessments of Iran’s nuclear program.
“Without effective monitoring, it is impossible to make technically sound judgements about the nature of Iran’s nuclear activities,” the Argentinian diplomat said.
Grossi added that discussions with Iranian officials and other international actors, including the United States, European countries, Russia, and China, are ongoing to achieve a verifiable and sustainable solution for managing Iran’s nuclear program.
He stressed that these efforts are purely technical and aimed at reducing the risks of nuclear proliferation.
The IAEA Director General also addressed recent regional tensions, particularly between Iran and the Zionist regime, emphasizing that escalating conflicts complicate nuclear diplomacy and increase the risk of miscalculation.
Grossi refuted accusations of bias, asserting that the IAEA is an independent and technical body tasked with preventing nuclear proliferation and mitigating nuclear risks regionally and internationally.
Referencing increased nuclear tensions, weakened traditional alliances, and the global shift toward multipolarity, Grossi stated that the legitimacy and effectiveness of international institutions, particularly the United Nations, have been severely compromised.
Grossi, who has led the IAEA since 2019, stressed that despite being 80 years old, the UN remains “irreplaceable” for global peace and security but requires renewed trust and effectiveness.
He cited unresolved crises like the conflict in Ukraine and Gaza as examples of the failures of the current multilateral structure, asserting that the UN faces a “deep crisis of credibility and effectiveness.”
According to Grossi, the return of classical warfare, heightened geopolitical competition, and the political exploitation of tools like trade tariffs have placed the world in an unprecedented situation.
Grossi also cautioned against a “revival of nuclear deterrence,” noting that nuclear powers are not only maintaining their arsenals but also modernizing and expanding them, increasing the pressure for nuclear proliferation in other countries.
Grossi affirmed that dialogue, mediation, and the provision of practical solutions are the only ways to prevent the escalation of crises.
