Rafael Grossi, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), sounded an urgent alarm in an interview with Italian news agency ANSA regarding Iran’s escalating nuclear program. Grossi revealed that the regime has enriched uranium to 60% and 90% military-grade levels, placing it “almost at the level of countries with atomic weapons.”
Grossi expressed concerns that the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, formally known as the JCPOA, is no longer sufficient to address the regime’s capabilities. “The philosophy of the original agreement can still be useful, but that agreement is no longer needed,” he stated. He called for a new framework that includes Europe, the United States, China, and Russia alongside the IAEA to address the reality of Tehran’s advanced nuclear program.
Grossi’s remarks emphasize the growing threat posed by the Iranian regime’s nuclear enrichment activities, which have drawn international condemnation. A joint statement by the UK, France, and Germany last week declared there is no “credible civilian justification” for Tehran’s recent uranium enrichment, warning that it enables Iran to quickly produce weapons-grade material.
#Iranian Regime’s Posturing During Grossi’s Visit Aims to Avert IAEA Resolution Amid Snapback Mechanism Fearshttps://t.co/EnhA42z2EV
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) November 17, 2024
Meanwhile, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) revealed damning new findings about the regime’s covert efforts to develop nuclear weapons. At a press conference in Washington, DC, on December 19, NCRI representatives accused Tehran of secretly advancing the weaponization aspect of its nuclear project to build a warhead.
According to NCRI, activities at the Center for Research and Expansion of Technologies on Explosions and Impact (METFAZ) have intensified. Operated under the Organization for Advanced Defense Research (SPND), METFAZ uses a front company, Arvin Kimia Abzaar, to disguise its work on nuclear detonators as oil industry projects. NCRI warned that Tehran demonstrates the “lowest level of transparency” in its nuclear bomb-making efforts, urging the IAEA to inspect suspected sites.
The NCRI has long criticized the international community for its failure to hold Tehran accountable, accusing global powers and the IAEA of placing misguided hope in ineffective diplomatic efforts.