Iran Has Sufficient Material to Build Nuclear Weapons: IAEA Chief

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Iran Has Sufficient Material to Build Nuclear Weapons: IAEA Chief

Vienna: The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has issued a stark warning that although Iran does not currently possess a nuclear weapon, it has amassed sufficient material to potentially construct one.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Grossi cautioned that if Iran were to acquire a nuclear weapon, it could trigger a “chain reaction” across the Middle East, escalating regional tensions.

He further emphasized that the continued breakdown in nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran could lead to potential military action—a threat that both Washington and Tel Aviv have signaled in recent months.

Meanwhile, the three European signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal—Britain, France, and Germany—are reportedly considering reactivating the deal’s “trigger mechanism” to reinstate UN sanctions on Iran. This option will expire in October 2025, marking the agreement’s 10th anniversary.

Amid these developments, Iran has once again warned the three European countries against supporting a draft resolution against Tehran at the upcoming IAEA Board of Governors meeting, calling such a move a "major strategic mistake."

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the European trio of taking “biased action” against Iran instead of pursuing constructive diplomacy. “Europe stands at the edge of making another grave strategic error. Mark my words: Iran will deliver a decisive response to any violation of its rights,” Araghchi warned.

Last week, Rafael Grossi submitted his latest report on Iran’s nuclear activities to the IAEA Board of Governors. The board is scheduled to convene on June 9, where the U.S., U.K., France, and Germany are expected to propose a new resolution based on the findings.

If adopted, this would mark the first time in nearly two decades that Iran is formally accused of breaching its nuclear commitments.

While the contents of Grossi’s confidential report have not been officially released, media outlets report that Iran is suspected of conducting "undeclared nuclear activities" at three undisclosed locations using "unreported nuclear material."

A new IAEA report also describes Iran’s rapid accumulation of highly enriched uranium as a “serious concern” and criticizes Tehran for providing “less than expected cooperation” with international monitoring efforts.

In response, Iranian authorities have strongly rejected the report, warning that any “political exploitation” of the issue by Western powers will be met with a response.

Iran maintains that it has “no undeclared nuclear material or activities” and continues to cooperate extensively with the IAEA.

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