TEHRAN – The head of Iran’s atomic energy agency says the country’s nuclear facilities will remain safe and fully operational as international scrutiny follows the recent Israeli attack on Iran’s territory.
On Wednesday, Mohammad Esrami, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI), said that morale among staff at nuclear sites and that despite recent tensions, personnel remain firmly present.
“The Iranians have never succumbed to pressure or coercion. Our nuclear facility colleagues are performing their duties with determination and strength,” Eslami said. “Our nation is built on pride and power, and our enemies need to understand that this path will lead them everywhere.
He emphasized that the situation at Iran’s nuclear facilities remains stable and staff are working without any confusion.
Meanwhile, Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), repeatedly said in an interview with CNN that he had not discovered evidence of organized Iran’s efforts to build nuclear weapons.
Grossi’s comments come five days after Israel’s military strike targeted Iran’s territory, claiming that Tel Aviv was aiming to dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
“It’s certainly no indication that Iran is on the brink of developing nuclear weapons,” Grossi said. “It’s not a problem for tomorrow, but maybe it’s not a problem for years either. Still, this remains speculation and I’m stressing. We simply don’t know.”
He noted that if secret activities are being carried out outside the reach of IAEA inspectors, the agency would have no way of detecting them. “But based on previous reports, there is no evidence of a systematic move towards weaponization,” Grossi asserted.
Iran consistently argues that its nuclear program is peacefully and compliant with IAEA regulations. Iranian officials, including leaders of the Islamic Revolution, have repeatedly declared that the production or acquisition of nuclear weapons has no place in the country’s defense doctrine. In the religious order, Ayatollah Khamenei named the weapon of mass destruction Haram (prohibited under Islamic law).
Nevertheless, Israel has long accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons and launched a number of sabotage and military operations targeting Iranian scientists and facilities. In a recent escalation, Israeli forces have directly attacked Iranian soil, citing the need to prevent peaceful nuclear advances in Iran.