Iran Accuses IAEA Chief of Betraying Non-Proliferation, Enabling Israeli Strikes

Iran has strongly condemned International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Grossi, accusing him of betraying the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and enabling Israeli military aggression against its nuclear facilities. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei criticized Grossi for issuing a report accusing Iran of non-compliance that was later used to justify an Israeli strike, calling the IAEA complicit in an 'unjust war' and demanding accountability. Despite Grossi's later statements to CNN denying evidence of a systematic Iranian nuclear weapons program, Iran maintains that the initial report and the UN board resolution declaring Iran in breach of its obligations were politically motivated and biased. Tehran also accused the IAEA of weaponizing its findings against Iran while ignoring nuclear-armed states outside the treaty, particularly Israel, and warned that misleading narratives have led to the killing of innocent Iranians. The tensions have escalated to the point where Iran is considering legislative steps to withdraw from the NPT. These criticisms highlight a deep rift between Iran and the IAEA amid ongoing nuclear talks and escalating regional conflict.