Iran Rejects IAEA Report as "Tool of Political Pressure"
Tehran claims Israeli and US bombings prevent nuclear inspections. IAEA warns of proliferation risk.
Tehran claims Israeli and US bombings prevent nuclear inspections. IAEA warns of proliferation risk.
Iran has sharply criticized the latest report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), calling it a "tool of political pressure" after the agency expressed concerns about limited access to Iranian nuclear facilities.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi posted on social media platform X that "if the agency wants to be part of a diplomatic solution, it must refrain from turning a technical report into a tool of political pressure."
In a confidential report released Thursday, the IAEA stated that the lack of access to Iranian nuclear facilities poses "proliferation concerns." The agency emphasized that it is "critical to conduct verification activities in Iran without delay," despite acknowledging that "military attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities have created an unprecedented situation."
Gharibabadi responded Saturday that Israeli-American attacks represent "not only a violation of Iranian sovereignty, but also a direct blow to nuclear security." "You cannot bomb facilities under supervision, destroy the access and security needed for inspections, and then use the consequences of that same attack as a complaint against Iran," he stated.
Israel attacked Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025 during nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington. US President Donald Trump claimed the bombings enabled the "annihilation" of Iran's nuclear program. The US and Israel jointly carried out additional attacks on February 28, 2026, which led to the outbreak of war in the region.
During both conflicts, Iranian nuclear facilities were bombed multiple times, which Iran cites as the key reason for restricting inspector access for security reasons.
Before the US attacks in June 2025, the IAEA calculated that Iran possessed approximately 440 kilograms of highly enriched uranium. Since then, the fate of these stockpiles, which inspectors last saw on June 10, 2025, has remained unknown.
Highly enriched uranium represents a key component for nuclear weapons production, making the inability to track Iranian stockpiles a significant concern for the international community. Western countries, led by the US and Israel, accuse Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, which Tehran categorically denies.