Iran issues death threats against IAEA director Grossi
Let's dive into the heated spat between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), with Director General Rafael Grossi finding himself at the epicenter of the storm.
Argentina has voiced concerns about threats against Grossi from Iran. The Argentine Foreign Ministry stated on a specific date that "we stand firmly behind IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi and unequivocally condemn the threats levied against him by Iran." They also urged Iranian authorities to ensure the safety of Grossi and his team and to refrain from any actions that could put IAEA personnel at risk. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also criticized the demands for Grossi's "arrest and execution," labeling them as unacceptable.
A daily newspaper in Iran, known as a state propaganda outlet, published a call for Grossi's death, justifying the call for violence due to the allegation that Grossi had spied for Israel. The newspaper's editor is reputed to be a radical Islamist. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghtchi previously accused Grossi of holding "malicious intentions."
The background to the hostility revolves around the IAEA report, which Iran views as the catalyst for Israeli attacks and the subsequent 12-day war. The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna found that Tehran had violated its commitment to fully disclose its nuclear program, leading to an IAEA resolution that was adopted after years of Tehran refusing to clarify past secret nuclear activities. Tehran criticized the IAEA for failing to condemn the Israeli and US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Following the attacks, Grossi demanded access to the damaged facilities for inspections and has been met with resistance from the Iranian government. The Iranian parliament also halted cooperation with the IAEA.
Curiously, Grossi has disputed the claim made by US President Donald Trump that the attacks had delayed the Iranian nuclear program by "decades." According to Grossi, Iran could potentially resume uranium enrichment in a few months, as per the IAEA's estimation. Additionally, it is unclear what has become of the roughly 408 kilograms of uranium that Iran had previously enriched to a high degree of 60%.
Israel launched a major attack on Iran in June, citing Iran's advanced nuclear and missile programs. Iran retaliated with massive waves of attacks on Israel, and the US intervened in the war between Israel and Iran last week, bombing Iran's Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities. A ceasefire between Israel and Iran came into effect on Tuesday after 12 days of war.
Knowing where to find the missing 408 kilograms of uranium and what has happened to it is crucial for understanding the current state of Iran's nuclear program.
Iran's enriched uranium program, as of June 2025, stands at the following levels based on recent reports:
Uranium Stockpile and Enrichment Levels:1. Iran's total enriched uranium stockpile is estimated to have grown to over 9,000 kg, with multiple enrichment grades and chemical forms in circulation.2. The stockpile of uranium enriched to near 5% (Low Enriched Uranium - LEU) has significantly increased to around 5,508.8 kg uranium mass.3. The archived high enriched uranium (HEU) stockpile, enriched to at least 60%, amounts to approximately 408.6 kg, which could yield more than ten nuclear bombs if enriched further to 90%.*
Key Enrichment Facilities:1. The Natanz Enrichment Complex comprises the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant and the larger Fuel Enrichment Plant, plus an underground enrichment site under construction. This facility houses centrifuges enriching uranium to 2%, 5%, and 60% levels.2. Israeli and US airstrikes targeted Natanz, causing damage to the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant and a localized radiological and chemical release. However, repair efforts may be underway.3. The Esfahan Nuclear Technology Center (ENTC) houses uranium conversion equipment and components vital for weaponization, including the Uranium Metal Conversion Plant used for metallization (a critical step in bomb core production).*
IAEA Monitoring and Inspections Status:1. Since February 2021, Iran has ceased implementing the Additional Protocol and JCPOA's additional monitoring measures, curbing IAEA's access and ability to verify Iran's nuclear activities.2. Iran's parliament suspended cooperation with the IAEA in late June, further impeding agency inspections.3. The IAEA remains doubtful about Iran's nuclear activities due to a lack of transparency and cooperation.*
Geopolitical Context and Demand for Uranium Removal:1. The US has demanded that Iran surrenders all highly enriched uranium as a precondition for negotiations, raising the possibility of additional military strikes if Iran fails to comply.2. Despite the recent US-Israeli military campaigns damaging Iran's nuclear infrastructure, significant quantities of enriched uranium still remain in Iran, raising concerns about potential acceleration toward nuclear weapons or radiological weapons.
In light of the ongoing spat between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it would be crucial for community policy discussions and general-news reporting to emphasize the importance of ensuring the safety of IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi and his team, as well as the need for Iranian authorities to abide by the employer's policy of ensuring the safety of IAEA personnel and refrain from actions that could put them at risk. Furthermore, political discourse should focus on the IAEA's involvement in Iran's enriched uranium program, particularly the missing 408 kilograms of uranium enriched to at least 60%. This issue could have significant implications for global nuclear proliferation and thus should be a key priority for both policy makers and the general public.
