TEHRAN – Before the start of the quarterly meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Committee on Monday, Director Rafael Grossi issued a statement, holding a press conference expressing concerns about nuclear development for more than decades, omitting Israel in particular and seizing known nuclear programs across West Asia for the past 18 months.
A key part of Grossi’s statement focused on Iran and expressed “serious concern” about the alleged growth of the country’s enriched uranium stockpile, “Iran’s stockpile, which enriched Iran’s up to 60% U-235, has increased from 182 kg in the past quarter to 275 kg.” He also lamented the violation of Tehran’s Joint Comprehensive Action Plan (JCPOA), adding that he was once again “deeply interested” about the situation.
A key part of the puzzle, like in the past, remained lacking in Grossi’s declaration on Monday.
Forged between Iran, the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany, the 2015 nuclear agreement was designed to limit Iran’s nuclear activity in exchange for the end of sanctions. This delicate balance was shattered in 2018, when Donald Trump unilaterally withdraws the US from the agreement and re-delegates crippling sanctions. Tehran continues its fight against economic fallout, which has been exacerbated by unprecedented secondary sanctions imposed by Washington.
When he began his second term this year, Trump said he didn’t want him to return to trade again, and that he would continue to pursue the infamous “maximum pressure campaign” against Iran. Meanwhile, European countries remain unable to take away sanctions from us.
Despite defending the JCPOA revival, Grossi consistently eschews the duties of the US and its European allies. His focus remains fixed in the restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program, despite the systematic rejection of the benefits promised under the international agreement.
In his Monday remarks, Grossi emphasized his perception of the threat of uranium enrichment in Iran, but he made it clear that he dealt with a much more immediate and potentially devastating danger.
Moreover, recent sobering suggestions by politicians regarding the huge weapons of Israel’s own nuclear bombs, and their potential use against Gaza and Lebanon, have failed to elicit similar warnings from Grossi. Instead, Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning nuclear ambitions appeared to order a larger share of the IAEA chief’s attention as they asked Riyadh to explain more about the nuclear material he was purchasing from other countries. The deadly weapons owned by the illicit regime, linked to the deaths of more than 60,000 people in the past 1. Grossi was not what he wanted to talk about.
Asked about the latest statement from nuclear watchdogs, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Bakaei said that if Grossi acts professionally and avoids coordination with the Western political agenda, everyone will benefit. “We will closely observe and respond appropriately to the agency’s future decisions. It is unacceptable that the agency will allow its commentary to be affected by the political bias of individual countries,” Bakaei said.