IAEA Chief Calls for 'Very Strong' Nuclear Verification in Iran Post-War
Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has stated that a robust verification system will be essential in Iran following the conclusion of the West Asia conflict to prevent the country from developing nuclear weapons. His remarks came during a press conference in Japan on Friday.
“I think the objective of this agreement is to ensure that there is no development of nuclear weapons in Iran. The government of Iran has declared quite clearly that this is not its intention,” Grossi said. “But of course, intentions are not enough. We have to have a very strong verification system in place, as soon as is practicable.”
The agreement referenced by Grossi is the recent U.S.-Iran deal, which has been a subject of intense negotiation amid the broader regional war. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while on a tour of Gulf nations to reassure allies, emphasised that there are limits to what Washington will accept in any Iran deal. Speaking from Bahrain on Thursday, Rubio dismissed the idea of allowing Iran to impose fees on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that such a move would lead to “chaos”.
Separately, an Israeli strike on a vehicle in southern Lebanon on Thursday killed three people, according to Lebanese state media. The Israeli army stated that it had targeted Hezbollah operatives in two incidents in the south. The attacks come amid ongoing hostilities in the region.
The IAEA chief’s comments highlight the international community's focus on Iran's nuclear programme as a key issue in post-conflict stability. The call for stringent verification underscores concerns that despite Iran's stated intentions, monitoring mechanisms must be in place to ensure compliance.
