Iran blames IAEA Chief for enabling Israeli strikes
Shafaq News/ On Wednesday, Iran's Foreign Ministry accused Rafael Grossi, the Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), of negligence and blamed his remarks for fueling Israeli attacks.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei sharply criticized Grossi for failing to promptly address Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. "His statements came too late,' Baqaei told Al Jazeera. He called on Grossi to 'assume full responsibility,' noting that the recent IAEA report handed Israel a pretext to attack Iran's nuclear infrastructure.
A landmark IAEA resolution has recently declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations, citing Tehran's refusal to fully cooperate and its possession of uranium enriched to near-weapons-grade levels. However, new IAEA assessments have found no evidence of a coordinated effort to develop a nuclear weapon. A separate US intelligence assessment, cited by CNN, stated that Iran remains up to three years away from being able to build and deliver one.
Baqaei also condemned the UN Security Council for 'failing to act' due to the positions of certain member states. 'We are under illegal attack from the Israeli regime. We will respond forcefully to any aggression,' he cautioned, stressing that Iran had been pursuing diplomacy with the United States until Israeli airstrikes halted the process.
He warned of dangerous consequences if the international community remains passive. 'No country has the right to strike another's nuclear sites. The world cannot afford the fallout of this conflict.'
In a separate post on X, Baqaei had criticized the Group of Seven, accusing it of turning a blind eye to Israel's 'illegal bombardment' of civilian neighborhoods and peaceful nuclear facilities. He demanded accountability from the group's permanent Security Council members, calling the Israeli campaign 'a blatant violation of international law against a UN member state.'
منشور المتحدث باسم وزارة الخارجية على منصة إكس: إدانة البيان المتحيز لمجموعة السبعإن بيان مجموعة السبع يتجاهل بشكل مبطن العدوان الصارخ الذي يشنه الكيان الصهيوني على إيران وهجماته غير القانونية على البنية التحتية النووية السلمية، فضلاً عن استهداف المناطق السكنية وقتل مواطنينا.… pic.twitter.com/kpJy4fNOIr
— 🇮🇷 الخارجية الإيرانية (@IRIMFA_AR) June 17, 2025
Since Friday, Israeli warplanes have carried out wide-scale strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities that killed senior commanders and leading scientists, alleging that Iran was approaching the point of no return in its nuclear weapons pursuit. Iran, which maintains its program is purely peaceful, responded with successive missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli cities and military bases, as both sides report rising casualties.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
22 minutes ago
- Shafaq News
Germany to Iran: Prove you're not building nuclear weapons
Shafaq News/ German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul urged Iran on Wednesday to provide clear, verifiable assurances that it is not pursuing nuclear weapons. At a joint press conference in Berlin with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi, Wadephul reaffirmed Germany's openness to diplomacy but pressed Tehran to act swiftly. 'It is never too late to come to the negotiating table, if one comes with sincere intentions.' His remarks followed a sharp escalation in regional tensions after Israel's June 13 launch of Operation Rising Lion, which targeted Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure. Tehran claimed the strikes also hit peaceful nuclear facilities. Germany, along with the US and UK, has endorsed Israel's right to self-defense in response to Iran's retaliatory barrage, known as True Promise 3. On Tuesday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz defended the Israeli campaign, describing it as 'the dirty work Israel is doing for all of us.'
Shafaq News
22 minutes ago
- Shafaq News
Israeli strikes hit Tehran in new wave
Shafaq News/ A new wave of Israeli airstrikes targeted sites in and around Tehran on Wednesday afternoon, according to local media. Explosions reportedly rocked the Lavizan district, Nobonyad Square, and the city of Karaj, in a mix of missiles and air defenses. The targeted areas carry strategic relevance, as Lavizan has long drawn scrutiny over suspected nuclear activity, while Karaj is associated with drone and missile production. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had condemned Israeli attacks on the country as a 'serious miscalculation,' pledging a forceful response and affirming that Iran will not forgive violations of "its sovereignty or the blood of its martyrs." He also addressed President Donald Trump's warning to evacuate Tehran and his threat of assassination, calling the statements 'foolish' and warning Washington of 'irreversible consequences' if it intervenes. The escalation, now in its sixth day, continues with sustained missile and drone exchanges, and despite mounting international pressure, neither side has signaled a willingness to de-escalate.
Shafaq News
22 minutes ago
- Shafaq News
Iran-Israel war hits wallets: stranded Iraqis pay the price to get home
Shafaq News/ The ongoing war between Israel and Iran has thrown regional air travel into disarray, stranding thousands of passengers and forcing Iraqis to return home by land—only to face chaos, inflated transport fees, and a lack of government oversight. Since the escalation began on Friday, Iraq suspended its airspace as a security precaution, leading to widespread flight cancellations and diversions. While southern airspace was later reopened for limited daytime flights through Basra International Airport, many Iraqi travelers—especially pilgrims—remained trapped in Iran, Turkiye, and Lebanon. With air routes disrupted, land crossings became the only option home, but the journey proved anything but smooth. Returnees arriving at Iraq's borders encountered soaring transport costs and unregulated conditions. Um Tabarak, a mother of three from Baghdad, said she was shocked after returning from Turkiye when a driver demanded $150 to take her home. 'There was no system, no oversight—just exploitation and a complete disregard for our humanity,' she told Shafaq News. Um Hassan from Karbala noted that she paid $300 for a taxi from Qom to the Mehran border crossing—triple the usual fare. 'I had gone for medical treatment, spent everything I had, and barely made it back,' she shared with our agency. 'I had no choice.' Abu Mustafa from Najaf recounted being stuck in Mashhad in Iran after falling victim to a flight scam. 'I lost all my money and couldn't leave until some strangers helped me return.' The crisis reached Lebanon as well. In Beirut, dozens of stranded Iraqis staged a protest outside the Iraqi embassy, denouncing what they called a failure to organize their return. Eyewitnesses reported to our agency that Lebanese police intervened to defuse tensions, though no injuries were reported. Calls for government intervention have grown louder. Struggling Iraqis are urging the Ministry of Transport and the Border Crossings Authority to step in, organize affordable transport, enforce price regulations, and deploy inspection teams to prevent further abuse. The Ministry of Transport, however, denied any irregularities. It confirmed that land transportation was operating 'smoothly' and that necessary services were being provided in coordination with the Authority. Ahmad al-Moussawi, Director of the General Company for Private Transport, told Shafaq News that he and senior officials are stationed at the Zurbatiyah crossing under direct instructions from Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. 'We're monitoring transport operations, overseeing the return of foreign pilgrims, and penalizing violations of pricing rules,' he said. Still, al-Moussawi acknowledged that the ministry holds no authority inside Iranian territory or at the Ibrahim al-Khalil crossing, which falls under the Kurdistan Regional Government.
