UN Atomic Chief Grossi Visits Iran as Nuclear Program Concerns Mount
Rafael Mariano Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), arrived in Iran on Monday to address the agency’s growing challenges in monitoring Iran’s nuclear program. Tensions remain high in the Middle East due to the Israel-Hamas war. Grossi has previously cautioned that Iran possesses enough uranium enriched to near-weapons-grade levels to manufacture multiple nuclear bombs, should it choose to do so. He acknowledged that the IAEA cannot confirm whether any of Iran’s centrifuges have been diverted for covert enrichment.
Grossi’s visit comes amid heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, with reports suggesting that the city of Isfahan, surrounded by sensitive nuclear sites, has recently been targeted. He is expected to attend a nuclear conference in the city during his two-day stay.
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During an IAEA meeting in March, Grossi emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Problems will not disappear. They will only get worse. So, we need to address this in a serious way.”
Iranian media confirmed that Grossi would meet with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Monday before traveling to Isfahan on Tuesday. He will then return to Vienna to brief journalists.
Tensions between Iran and the IAEA have escalated since the US withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018. Iran has since abandoned restrictions on its nuclear program, enriching uranium to 60% purity. It has also disrupted IAEA surveillance and barred experienced inspectors.
Iranian officials have increasingly hinted at the possibility of pursuing nuclear weapons. Although Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei previously deemed nuclear bomb production forbidden, officials acknowledge this stance could change.
