Iran’s Response to IAEA’s Accusations

On Thursday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghai, sharply criticized the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its director, Rafael Grossi, for their recent statements about Iran’s nuclear program. He accused the IAEA of aiding Israel in what he termed an “unjust war of aggression” against Iran.

The tension escalated following the IAEA’s declaration that Iran had violated its nuclear non-proliferation obligations. This marked the first official condemnation of Iran for non-compliance since 2005, as UN nuclear observers expressed long-standing frustration over Iran’s evasiveness regarding its nuclear activities.

Baghai pointed out that the IAEA’s governing body criticized Iran for numerous obstacles since 2019 and for failing to provide full cooperation on undisclosed nuclear materials and activities at unreported sites. Particularly concerning was Iran’s lack of explanation regarding uranium traces detected at three undisclosed locations.

Security analysts view Iran’s accusations as significant developments. Following the IAEA’s announcement, Israel quickly moved to dismantle Iran’s air defenses and target its nuclear program, launching the initial wave of strikes on Friday, just a day after the IAEA’s denunciation.

In an interview with CNN’s Chief International Anchor Christian Amanpour, Grossi stated that there was “no evidence of a systematic effort by Iran to move towards nuclear weapons.” This statement, however, didn’t seem to dissuade the IAEA from its stance. The agency’s concerns about Iran derive from documented cases of non-compliance and unanswered questions regarding its uranium enrichment. In response, Tehran pointed to Israel’s military actions as “evidence” in a conversation with Amanpour.

Baghai responded critically to Grossi’s comments, stating, “This entry is too late!” He highlighted what he claimed was a biased report misused by Western nations to justify a resolution against Iran, which he argued lacked legitimate claims of non-compliance. He further asserted that this resolution was used as a pretext for military action against Iran, including illegal strikes on its nuclear facilities.

Rhetorically questioning the UN’s accountability, Baghai lamented the impact of the ongoing conflict, asking how many innocent Iranians have suffered due to the war. He cautioned that misleading narratives could have dangerous repercussions and insisted that Grossi must answer for his role.

Baghai accused the IAEA of transforming into a tool serving purposes beyond its original mandate, effectively participating in what he viewed as an immoral conflict against Iran. He concluded by pressing Grossi about his conscience regarding these matters.

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), established in 1970, was designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons while promoting disarmament and peaceful nuclear energy use. Iran signed the NPT in 1968, predating the Islamic Republic’s rise to power. In contrast, Israel is believed to possess nuclear weapons but has never formally confirmed its arsenal and has not signed the treaty.

In light of the recent IAEA accusations, Iran has signaled it may consider withdrawing from the NPT following an Israeli attack. The core of the IAEA’s claims about Iran involved its lack of collaboration with investigators and the high levels of enriched uranium indicating potential non-compliance.