Threats Made by Iranian Official Against IAEA Head

Ali Larijani, an adviser to Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a significant threat to Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), over the weekend. He stated that he would “settle” matters with Grossi once the current conflict concludes.

On Saturday, Larijani shared on his official Twitter account in Persian, “When the war is over, we will resolve the account with Grossi.”

Grossi, an experienced Argentine diplomat, has been at the helm of the IAEA since December 2019. He has previously been involved in monitoring tests conducted at Iranian nuclear facilities. Recently, international organizations have raised alarms, claiming that Iran’s actions have led to an acceleration in uranium enrichment. On July 12, it was stated that for the first time in nearly two decades, Iran is not complying with its nuclear non-proliferation obligations.

This public threat from Larijani follows military actions taken by both Israel and the US against Iranian nuclear sites. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghayi, criticized Grossi for allegedly “betraying” the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and turning the IAEA into a partner in an “unjust war.”

Baghayi expressed on social media, “You betrayed the non-proliferation regime. You’ve made the IAEA a partner in this unfair attack.” His comments reflect a growing frustration within Iran regarding international scrutiny.

Furthermore, Grossi has, according to reports, denied any connection between the IAEA’s findings on Iran’s nuclear program and Israel’s military actions. He stated, “Reports on Iran’s nuclear verification are not the basis for military action,” asserting that military decisions are political choices rather than based on the agency’s reports.

Last week, Grossi also noted Iran’s sufficient nuclear materials to potentially produce six to eight nuclear bombs, yet clarified that this does not mean Iran possesses complete nuclear weapons at this time. He explained that while they have the material, accumulating enough for warheads is another step entirely.

The context of Larijani’s threat is particularly striking, given Argentina’s history with Iran. In the 1990s, Iran was implicated in two terrorist attacks in Argentina, executed through Hezbollah, resulting in numerous casualties. In 1992, a suicide bombing of the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires killed 29 people, while a more devastating attack in 1994 on the AMIA headquarters killed 85 individuals.

These tragic events have left a lasting impact on Argentina. Following lengthy judicial proceedings, Iranian and Hezbollah leaders were declared responsible for the attacks in 2024. Recently, Argentine President Javier Milei labeled Iran as the country’s enemy, stating in an interview that unlike Iran, Israel recognizes the existence of other nations. He emphasized the need to hold Iran accountable for its past actions.