IAEA concerned about Iran's nuclear programme due to uranium stocks and restrictions on inspectors
This was announced by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on social media.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, said that Iran has accumulated significant amounts of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels, which is causing concern among the international community.
According to him, the agency currently has no evidence that Tehran is developing nuclear weapons. At the same time, the IAEA also cannot confirm that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful in nature.
Grossi stressed that in its reports, the agency consistently draws attention to two key issues: significant stocks of enriched uranium and limited access for inspectors to Iranian nuclear facilities.
He stressed that until Tehran begins to fully cooperate with the IAEA and resolves outstanding issues regarding safeguards, the agency will not be able to confirm the peaceful nature of Iran's programme.
The IAEA's statements came amid a sharp escalation of the situation in the Middle East.
On 28 February, Israel launched a strike on Tehran, after which US President Donald Trump announced the start of a large-scale military operation against Iran.
According to him, the aim of the operation is to neutralise threats from the Iranian regime, in particular by destroying the country's missile infrastructure and military capabilities.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported the launch of missiles and drones towards Israel, as well as attacks on US military bases in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Against the backdrop of the escalation, French President Emmanuel Macron called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council. The European Union also stated the need to ensure stability in the region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Iranian people should be given a chance to get rid of the "terrorist regime" and guarantee the security of the states that have suffered from Iran's attacks.
Earlier, Donald Trump announced the death of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei. This information was later confirmed by Iran's state news agency IRNA.
On 1 March, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the start of "the most devastating offensive operation" against Israel and American bases in the region. In response, the US president called on the Iranian leadership to refrain from further escalation and threatened a harsh response.
