The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was established to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to prevent nuclear technology from being diverted for weapons purposes. This mission requires fairness, technical objectivity and commitment to the principles of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and recognizes the “non-transferable right” to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. However, under the guidance of its director, Rafael Grossi, the agency is dangerously lost from this founding mission.
Rather than acting as a neutral arbitrator, Grossi systematically weaponized the role of supervision to transform the IAEA into a political tool for the West, particularly the US and Israel, and perpetuate the suspicion and illegal narrative of Iran’s completely peaceful nuclear programme.
His tenure is characterized by patterns of non-professionalism, double standards, and promotion of untested allegations, which collectively destabilizes diplomatic efforts and helps justify the ongoing regime of brutal economic war against the Iranian people.
The basis of Grossi’s disruptive approach is his blatant disregard for the principle of confidentiality that is supposed to control transactions with IAEA members.
Instead of processing sensitive information through appropriate diplomatic and technical channels, Grossi has repeatedly taken it to international media platforms, publicly amplifying unfounded accusations against Iran.
This media-centric strategy is a deliberate political manipulation designed to test Iran in a court of public opinion precisely because it cannot demonstrate the claims in the de facto technology forum.
This non-professional act is most cruel in the handling of Grossi in so-called “protective matters” related to undeclared locations.
The IAEA, under his direction, relies heavily on the unidentified intelligence provided by the Zionist regime of Israel. This is a regime that maintains the secret nuclear weapons themselves without even the NPT’s signature.
The irony and hypocrisy are phenomenal. Grossi deals with manufactured documents and aerial photographs provided by known bad actors with malicious intent, dismissing Iran’s extensive cooperation and technical explanations as inadequate.
Furthermore, Grossi’s actions reveal clear, politically motivated double standards.
He is coordinating an unprecedented campaign of pressure on Iran’s surveillance and inspected programs, but he is prominently silent about the real nuclear threat in the region. The Israeli regime’s nuclear weapons program, which is subject to IAEA testing or surveillance, continues to be checked without commenting on concerns from the director before commenting once. This selective rage exposes the politicization of the IAEA under his leadership. It is not about non-diffusion. It is targeting certain countries that are hated by the United States and its allies. This double approach destroys the credibility of the IAEA and makes it clear that it is an instrument of power, not a guardian of principles.
The consequences of Rafael Grossi’s destructive role far exceed bureaucratic conflict. His actions have direct and serious humanitarian consequences. Justified and expanded economic sanctions through the climate of doubt he cultivates are a form of collective punishment. They take medicine and essential skills from the people of Iran and cause immeasurable suffering. By providing the political ammunition necessary to maintain this brutal sanctions regime, Grossi is conspiring in this economic war. He is responsible for the difficulties endured by ordinary Iranians who are denied their fundamental rights and the interests of peaceful nuclear technology.
In the guise of an unbiased oversight, Grossi renounced the IAEA’s technical mandate in favor of a politicized agenda decided by the US and Israeli regimes.
This assessment is directly reflected by the head of Mohammad Eslami of Iranian Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI), who said, “Grossi’s destructive role regarding Iran is recorded in history.”
His biased reporting, unfair demands and intentional misrepresentation of Iran’s full cooperation created a false pretext for an attack by the Zionist regime on June 13, 2025.
Tehran and Washington were involved in indirect nuclear negotiations through Oman when Israel launched a massive attack on Iran in mid-June. Washington also joined Israel’s war of aggression, bombing three of Iran’s major nuclear facilities, providing the pretext of preventing Iran from claiming he was developing nuclear weapons.
Iran’s intelligence agency is said to have revealed close cooperation between Israel and Grossi and close cooperation with Iran’s nuclear program. According to television in Iran’s Al-Alam, the documents suggest that Grossi would follow Israeli directives and raise concerns about the neutrality of the IAEA. The document concludes that Grossi’s actions are an important factor in preparing the international foundation for illegal and devastating military strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The IAEA is commissioned to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and examine the lack of weapons proliferation. As a signator of the NPT, Iran consistently argues that the nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes only. However, as confirmed by Aeoi head Mohammad Eslami, Grossi “didn’t be able to carry out his duties on Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.” He acted not as an impartial technical director, but as a political agent in the West, turning the institution into a tool of pressure and intelligence on Member States in good condition. Despite Iranian cooperation, Grossi consistently issued a statement focusing on information-based issues produced from the Israeli Mossad.
By continuing to highlight Grossi’s unverified claims in his message on his previous Twitter, X, Grossi intentionally created a constant cloud of doubt about Iran’s programmes, regardless of actual compliance.
Grossi repeatedly requested access to sensitive sites based on intelligence from enemies rather than evidence of the IAEA itself. This violation of Iran’s right to sovereignty was exacerbated by a strategy of deliberate procrastination.
As Eslami pointed out, “his procrastination paved the way for the Israeli regime to advance its illegal purposes.” This delayed tactic prevented the problem from being resolved and maintained a constant state of crisis that benefits Iran’s enemy.
In the weeks leading up to Israeli attacks on Iran, his rhetoric escalated. Building on the foundations of mossad intelligence, these statements were weaponized by Washington and Tel Aviv officials to argue that diplomacy had failed. He targeted nuclear and civilian infrastructure, killing hundreds of military officials and civilians, and providing essential diplomatic cover that affected the entire population centers due to unattacked acts of attack launched by Israel on June 13th. The Israeli regime’s military strike was not carried out in a vacuum. They needed the manufactured justification provided by the IAEA of Grossi. He waived his responsibility to become a fair arbitrator and instead became the central figure in a calibrated campaign of maximum pressure.
As the Iranian nuclear chief said, “Grossi’s destructive role regarding Iran is recorded in history.” His actions provided the essential basis for brutal acts of aggression. Therefore, Grossi has an important responsibility to help create conditions that have led to catastrophic attacks on Iran’s peaceful nuclear infrastructure. His tenure represents a dark chapter in IAEA history. This irreparably damaged the agency’s reliability and exposed it as a tool for geopolitical coercion.
Rafael Grossi’s tenure as Director of the IAEA represents a deep betrayal of the agency’s mission and a dark chapter in the history of nuclear diplomacy.
The future of nuclear verification and the promotion of peaceful nuclear energy depends not on the narrow interests of a few, but on the institutions serving the world. Until then, under Grossi’s leadership, it is not a solution, but a central part of the problem.
Reported by Tohid Mahmoudpour