Iran ‘not far’ from nuclear bomb, warns UN watchdog chief Rafael Grossi

The chief of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, has warned that Iran is edging dangerously close to developing a nuclear weapon. The statement came just hours before his arrival in Tehran for critical discussions with Iranian officials about the country’s contentious nuclear program.

Speaking to French newspaper Le Monde, Grossi compared Iran’s nuclear progress to assembling a jigsaw puzzle. “They have the pieces, and one day they could eventually put them together,” he said, adding, “There’s still a way to go before they get there. But they’re not far off, that has to be acknowledged.”

Grossi, who leads the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), emphasized the need for verifiable assurances rather than just verbal denials. “It’s not enough to tell the international community ‘we don’t have nuclear weapons’ for them to believe you. We need to be able to verify,” he stated.

The IAEA remains tasked with monitoring Iran’s nuclear activities and its compliance with the 2015 nuclear agreement, which began to unravel in 2018 following the US withdrawal under then-President Donald Trump. Since then, Iran has significantly ramped up its uranium enrichment activities.

Despite Washington’s firm stance, Iran maintains that its program is purely civilian. “Iran’s enrichment is a real, accepted matter,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said. “We are ready to build confidence in response to possible concerns, but the issue of enrichment is non-negotiable.”

Grossi’s visit coincides with heightened diplomatic activity, as Iran and the United States prepare for a second round of direct talks scheduled for Saturday.

The first meeting, held in Oman, was described by both parties as “constructive.” Iran’s Supreme Leader even commented that the negotiations were “going well,” though Tehran has since sent a delegation to Moscow for consultations with Russia.

Following the high-level talks, Trump emphasized that “Iran has to get rid of the concept of a nuclear weapon. These are radicalized people, and they cannot have a nuclear weapon.”

Meanwhile, Iran has confirmed that the upcoming round of nuclear talks with the United States will take place in Rome this weekend, clearing up earlier uncertainty about the location of the talks.

The focus will be on technical safeguards and verification measures to ensure Iran’s nuclear progress does not cross into weaponization.