The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency said there is no evidence that Iran is building a nuclear bomb. Rafael Grossi emphasised that the country’s substantial stockpile of uranium enriched close to weapons grade and its refusal to grant full access to inspectors are nevertheless cause for serious concern.
The Chenab Times has learned that Grossi made the remarks in a post on the social media platform X.
“I have been very clear and consistent in my reports on Iran’s nuclear programme: while there has been no evidence of Iran building a nuclear bomb, its large stockpile of near-weapons grade enriched uranium and refusal to grant my inspectors full access are cause for serious concern,” he wrote.
Grossi added that for these reasons, the IAEA is not currently in a position to provide assurance that Iran’s nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful.
The statement comes amid ongoing international tensions over Iran’s nuclear activities. In 2025, the United States and Israel carried out military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The administration of President Donald Trump has claimed these actions severely damaged Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
Despite those strikes, questions persist about Iran’s remaining capabilities. Before the attacks, the IAEA estimated that Iran possessed around 441 kilogrammes of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity. This material is considered near-weapons-grade, as only further enrichment to 90 percent is needed for use in a nuclear weapon.
The IAEA has reported difficulty in verifying the current status of this stockpile. Access to key sites, including those in Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan, has been limited following the conflict. The agency has stressed the need for full cooperation from Iranian authorities to resolve outstanding safeguards issues.
Iran has consistently stated that its nuclear programme is intended solely for peaceful purposes, such as power generation and medical applications. Tehran denies any intention to develop nuclear weapons.
However, the high level of enrichment and lack of full transparency have raised alarms in many capitals. Western governments, in particular, continue to view Iran’s programme with deep suspicion.
Grossi’s comments provide a technical counterpoint to some political rhetoric surrounding the issue. As the head of the UN’s nuclear verification agency, his assessment is closely watched by governments around the world.
The Chenab Times News Desk