The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, has issued a stark warning, stating that Iran is perilously close to developing a nuclear weapon.
Speaking with the French newspaper Le Monde, Grossi, who leads the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), explained that while Iran doesn’t yet possess the capability to produce a nuclear bomb, the country is making rapid progress and could soon assemble the necessary components for weaponization. His comments came just hours before he was scheduled to visit Tehran for discussions with Iranian officials regarding the nation’s controversial nuclear program.
“They’ve got the pieces, and one day they could eventually put them together,” Grossi said, likening Iran’s nuclear efforts to a jigsaw puzzle. “There’s still some distance to cover before they get there. But they’re not far off, and that’s something we have to acknowledge.”
Grossi’s words underscore the growing international apprehension surrounding Iran’s nuclear ambitions as the IAEA continues its efforts to monitor Tehran’s adherence to the 2015 nuclear agreement. This agreement has largely fallen apart since the U.S. withdrew from it in 2018 under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Grossi stressed that the international community cannot simply rely on Iran’s spoken assurances. “It’s not enough for them to just tell the international community, ‘we don’t have nuclear weapons,’ for us to believe it. We need to have the ability to verify,” Grossi stated, emphasizing the necessity of concrete, verifiable guarantees rather than mere diplomatic promises.
Since the U.S. exit from the agreement, Iran has significantly increased its uranium enrichment activities, further escalating tensions with Western nations. Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, but the accelerating pace of enrichment has triggered alarms, particularly as the international community struggles to ensure that Iran is not advancing towards nuclear weaponization.
“Iran’s enrichment is a real, accepted fact,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a recent interview, reiterating Tehran’s position that its nuclear activities are strictly for civilian use. “We are ready to build confidence in response to possible concerns, but the issue of enrichment is non-negotiable.”
Grossi’s remarks come at a time of increased diplomatic activity concerning Iran’s nuclear program. He arrived in Tehran just before the second round of direct talks between Iran and the United States, which are scheduled to take place this weekend in Rome. The first round of discussions, held in Oman, was described by both sides as “constructive,” with Iran’s Supreme Leader acknowledging that the negotiations were “going well.” However, Tehran has also been engaged in separate consultations with Russia, indicating that its diplomatic outreach extends beyond just the U.S.
Despite the diplomatic optimism, U.S. officials remain firm in their stance, with Trump reiterating his position that Iran “cannot have a nuclear weapon.” Trump called on Tehran to abandon its nuclear aspirations, describing the regime as “radicalized” and emphasizing his administration’s commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear arms.
The upcoming talks in Rome are expected to concentrate on technical safeguards and verification measures aimed at ensuring that Iran’s nuclear activities remain within the boundaries of peaceful applications and do not veer into weaponization. The outcome of these discussions could significantly shape the future trajectory of Iran’s nuclear program and the broader regional landscape.
