Germany on Sunday urged Iran to stop making “threats” against the UN’s nuclear watchdog. This plea follows Tehran’s rejection of the agency’s request to visit nuclear facilities bombed by Israel and the United States.
Tehran has accused Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), of “betrayal of his duties” for not condemning the recent Israeli and US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites. Earlier this week, Iranian lawmakers voted to suspend cooperation with the agency, escalating tensions.
“I commend director general Rafael Grossi and his team for their efforts and their unrelenting professionalism. Threats against them from within Iran are deeply troubling and must stop,” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on X (formerly Twitter), without specifying the nature of the threats. He added, “I call on the Iranian authorities to fully cooperate with the IAEA and to ensure the safety of its personnel.”
On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that “Grossi’s insistence on visiting the bombed sites under the pretext of safeguards is meaningless and possibly even malign in intent.”
Iran has maintained that an IAEA resolution passed on June 12, which accused Iran of ignoring its nuclear obligations, served as an “excuse” for the war Israel launched on June 13.
Wadephul had previously urged Iran on Thursday to continue working with the IAEA, labeling the vote by Iranian lawmakers to halt cooperation with the agency as “a totally wrong signal.”
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