VIENNA(AP) – The head of the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed on Monday that the agency would never politicize its work in Iran, despite Iranian pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Countering accusations of surrendering to the front. Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi maintained that the IAEA had been “very fair but firm” in its assessments.
Netanyahu’s comments came in response to a classified IAEA report last week, which called for a halt to investigations into traces of man-made uranium discovered in Marivan, near Ibadah, southeast of Tehran. was
Marivan has been linked to speculation of a secret Iranian military nuclear program, with analysts alleging that Iran conducted high explosive tests in the area in the early 2000s.
In televised remarks from his cabinet, Netanyahu asserted, “Iran continues to lie to the International Atomic Energy Agency. The agency’s capitulation to Iranian pressure is a black mark on its record.” There’s a stain.” He further claimed that if the IAEA became a political body, its monitoring activities and reports on Iran’s nuclear efforts would lose importance.
Asked about the criticism, Director General Grossi stressed the impartiality and technical nature of the agency’s work. “We will always say things as they are,” he said, underscoring the IAEA’s commitment to impartiality. Grossi made it clear that he would not participate in a debate with a member government head, stressing, “We never do politics. We have our standards and always apply them.” He further said that the concept of doing politics is in the eye of the beholder.
Israel views Iran as its greatest enemy, with Netanyahu repeatedly vowing not to allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons. He has advocated a serious military option alongside international diplomacy, and signaled that Israel would be ready to take independent action if necessary.
Prior to Netanyahu’s comments, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Lior Hayat criticized Iran’s explanations for the presence of nuclear material at the Marivan site, calling them unreliable and technically implausible.
IAEA Director General Grossi, however, assured that the agency will never compromise its safety standards. “We’ve been tough, technically neutral, and as I like to say, very fair but firm,” he asserted.
The IAEA report also revealed that another member country operated a mine in the Mariwan area during the 1960s and 1970s during the reign of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, without providing further details.
Iran has maintained that traces of uranium discovered at Marivan can be attributed to laboratory equipment and equipment used by miners at the site, which the IAEA has explained as probable. The agency is currently seeking clarification on the origin and current whereabouts of man-made uranium particles found at two other Iranian sites, Varaman and Turkuzabad.
Iran has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons, saying its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. As tensions persist, the IAEA remains steadfast in its commitment to impartial inspections and assessments in Iran.
