Iran Accuses UN Nuclear Watchdog of Aligning With Israel in Ongoing Conflict
“You betrayed the non-proliferation regime; You’ve made IAEA a partner to this unjust war of aggression,” Iranian FM spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei wrote on X, directly addressing IAEA DG.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Iran on Thursday sharply criticized the United Nations nuclear watchdog, accusing the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of siding with Israel in what it called a “war of aggression.”
The accusation comes as tensions continue to escalate between Iran and Israel, with both sides engaging in direct military strikes. The Iranian government directed its condemnation at IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, following a recent report from the agency that criticized Iran’s non-compliance with its nuclear obligations.
“You betrayed the non-proliferation regime; You’ve made IAEA a partner to this unjust war of aggression,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei wrote in a post on X, directly addressing Grossi.
The IAEA report, issued before the outbreak of hostilities, raised alarm over Iran's expanding nuclear activities, noting the country’s continued enrichment of uranium well beyond the limits set by the 2015 nuclear deal. Iran, however, has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
In an interview with France24 on Wednesday, Grossi defended the agency's stance while acknowledging the gravity of the situation. “Iran is the only country in the world that is currently enriching uranium to near-military grade,” he said. “But we are not in a position to say whether there is a direct effort towards building a nuclear weapon.”
Iranian officials have rejected any suggestion of a nuclear weapons agenda, accusing Western powers and Israel of using the IAEA to apply political pressure amid the ongoing conflict.
Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict have so far yielded little progress, with both Iran and Israel intensifying their rhetoric and military operations over the past week.
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