UN watchdog states no evidence Iran is working on nuclear bomb
(MENAFN) The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has stated that there is no concrete evidence showing Iran is actively working to build a nuclear bomb. His remarks come amid escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, with both sides exchanging strikes after Israel launched air raids on Friday, claiming Iran was close to producing a nuclear weapon.
U.S. President Donald Trump echoed that concern on Tuesday, saying he believes Iran is “very close” to acquiring a bomb. However, this contradicted earlier remarks by his own Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, who affirmed that Iran is not pursuing a nuclear weapon. Iranian officials have consistently maintained that their nuclear program is peaceful and within their rights under international law.
Speaking to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Grossi acknowledged that while Iran possesses enriched uranium, the development of a nuclear weapon also requires specific technology and testing — steps the IAEA has seen no evidence of. “There is no proof of a systematic effort to build a nuclear bomb,” he stated. “We are only able to report on what we can verify.”
Grossi admitted that past activities may have suggested military-related nuclear work, but currently, there is no indication Iran has resumed such efforts. “It’s not something that would happen tomorrow, and maybe not even in a matter of years,” he said, responding to speculation over how soon Iran could build a bomb if it chose to.
Just before Israel’s first strike, the IAEA passed a resolution accusing Iran of failing to comply with its nuclear non-proliferation obligations. The agency claimed Tehran had repeatedly failed to demonstrate that its nuclear material was not being diverted for military enrichment.
In response, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi announced that Tehran would scale back cooperation with the IAEA. He criticized the agency for refusing to condemn Israel’s attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, saying its stance was “nonsensical.”
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