FM Araghchi: Grossi’s Call to Visit Iran ‘Malign in Intent’
TEHRAN -- Iran says a call by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi to visit the country’s nuclear sites, recently targeted in U.S. military aggression, is “meaningless and possibly even malign in intent”.
Grossi’s “insistence on visiting the bombed sites under the pretext of safeguards is meaningless and possibly even malign in intent,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on his X account.
“Iran reserves the right to take any steps in defense of its interests, its people, and its sovereignty,” he added.
Araghchi’s post came after the head of the UN nuclear agency, addressing the IAEA’s Board of Governors on Monday, appealed for immediate access to the targeted sites to assess the possible damages.
The three Iranian nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan came under unprovoked and unlawful American aggression on Sunday morning, the responsibility of which was immediately claimed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
At the NATO summit in the Netherlands on Wednesday, Trump claimed the “total obliteration” of Iran’s nuclear program.
Araghchi said the Iranian parliament has voted for a halt to collaboration with the IAEA until the safety and security of the country’s nuclear activities can be guaranteed.
“This is a direct result of @rafaelmgrossi’s regrettable role in obfuscating the fact that the Agency—a full decade ago—already closed all past issues,” the top Iranian diplomat noted.
He added that Grossi’s malign action played a direct role in facilitating the adoption of a politically-motivated resolution by the 35-member Board of Governors against Iran and the unlawful Israeli and U.S. bombings of Iranian nuclear sites.
On June 12, the IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution accusing Iran of “non-compliance” with its nuclear obligations. The resolution, pushed by Britain, France and Germany,
and endorsed by the U.S., was passed with 19 votes in favor, three against, and 11 abstentions.
In his post, Araghchi also pointed to a betrayal of Grossi’s duties, who also failed to explicitly condemn such blatant violations of IAEA safeguards and its Statute.
“The IAEA and its Director-General are fully responsible for this sordid state of affairs,” the Iranian foreign minister said.
In his post, Araghchi also pointed to a betrayal of Grossi’s duties, who also failed to explicitly condemn such blatant violations of IAEA safeguards and its Statute.
“The IAEA and its Director-General are fully responsible for this sordid state of affairs,” the Iranian foreign minister said.