Iran Halts Cooperation with IAEA, Blames Director General Grossi for Nuclear Site Attacks
Taarek Refaat
In a dramatic escalation of tensions surrounding its nuclear program, Iran announced the suspension of its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), placing the blame squarely on the agency's Director General Rafael Grossi, for what it claims is his complicity in recent attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.
The announcement came via Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who stated in a post on the social platform X (formerly Twitter) that the Iranian parliament had voted to halt all collaboration with the UN nuclear watchdog 'until the safety and security of Iran's nuclear activities are guaranteed.'
According to Araghchi, Grossi played a 'regrettable role' in facilitating international pressure on Iran by allegedly covering up the fact that 'all previous issues related to Iran's nuclear file had been officially closed over a decade ago.' The minister further accused the IAEA chief of 'bias' that paved the way for what he described as 'politically motivated resolutions' passed by the IAEA's Board of Governors — resolutions that, in Araghchi's view, encouraged recent Israeli and American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
'By refusing to condemn these attacks,' Araghchi said, 'Grossi violated the professional duties entrusted to him by the international community. We hold him and the IAEA fully responsible for the current situation.'
The remarks follow mounting frustration in Tehran over what it views as double standards in the international nuclear oversight system, particularly in light of recent sabotage incidents at nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow, which Iranian officials attribute to Israeli covert operations.
'A National Symbol of Resistance'
In a separate statement, Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), praised what he called the 'resilience of the Iranian people' in the face of foreign aggression. He described Iran's nuclear program as 'a successful symbol of the Iranian nation's determination to achieve scientific independence, national sovereignty, and technological advancement.'
Eslami also pointed out that Iran's nuclear sites are under 'full and continuous surveillance by the IAEA,' arguing that the attacks against these internationally monitored facilities constitute 'a clear violation of international law and established regulatory frameworks.'
He sharply criticized Grossi for his 'silence' regarding these attacks, calling it 'a blatant breach of the agency's charter and international responsibilities.'
A Deepening Rift
The decision to suspend cooperation marks a turning point in Iran-IAEA relations and threatens to further undermine the already fragile nuclear monitoring system in the region. The IAEA has yet to issue a formal response to Iran's accusations or its suspension of cooperation.
The move comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions and a stalled revival of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), from which the United States withdrew in 2018. Despite sporadic diplomatic overtures in recent years, Iran has steadily expanded its nuclear activities, enriching uranium well beyond the limits set by the deal.
With the IAEA now effectively sidelined and Iran hardening its stance, experts warn that the risk of miscalculation or open confrontation may increase, especially given ongoing shadow conflict dynamics between Tehran, Tel Aviv, and Washington.
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