The Director General of the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) states that Iran’s room for maneuver in its nuclear program is shrinking, and Iran must urgently find ways to resolve this issue.
On Wednesday, November 12, Rafael Grossi told Agence France-Presse on the sidelines of the “COP 29” meeting in Baku that the Iranian government needs to understand that international conditions are becoming increasingly tense, reducing its room for maneuver. He emphasized the necessity of finding diplomatic solutions.
On the eve of his trip to Iran, he clarified that the IAEA is allowed to conduct inspections in Iran but requires more extensive observations. He added that, given the scope, depth, and ambition of Iran’s nuclear program, it is essential to find ways to gain a better view of Iran’s activities.
His upcoming trip to Tehran on the following Wednesday also coincides with Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election. During his previous presidency, Trump took a very hardline stance toward Iran’s regime, withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and imposed severe sanctions on the regime.
Mr. Grossi says he had a good experience working with the U.S. administration during Trump’s previous term.
A year after the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA in May 2018, Iran’s regime gradually began to reduce its commitments under the agreement and restricted its cooperation with the IAEA.
Mr. Grossi has repeatedly criticized Iran’s lack of cooperation in answering questions about traces of uranium found at undeclared sites, the expulsion of some IAEA inspectors from Iran, and blocking the agency’s access to surveillance camera data in Iran’s nuclear facilities, among other issues.
He has also warned about the significant increase in Iran’s 60%-enriched uranium stockpile, which is very close to the level required to produce a nuclear bomb.
According to IAEA standards, Iran possesses enough enriched uranium to produce approximately four nuclear bombs if further enriched.
Iran’s regime has long denied any plans to build a nuclear bomb, stating that it enriches uranium solely for civilian energy purposes.
Previously, Mr. Grossi commented on Iran’s lack of cooperation with the IAEA, saying that the JCPOA had become a “hollow shell.”
With the advent of President Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration, the Iranian regime has stated that it is ready to resume negotiations.
Grossi’s last visit to Iran took place in May of this year. He urged Iranian officials to address the IAEA’s concerns and to bring more transparency to its nuclear program.
