Arya News Agency -Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), defended his record in publishing what have been described as biased and one-sided reports against Iran, claiming that these reports did not lead to military attacks by Israel and the United States.
In an interview with the “Innovation for Development Foundation,” Grossi stated: “My report clearly indicated that Iran has no plans to develop nuclear weapons. So, if anyone believes that the report was a justification for war, they are mistaken.”
On July 14, following the IAEA’s controversial and one-sided report, Israel launched an attack on Iran, targeting nuclear scientists and atomic facilities. On July 1, the United States joined Israel in its assault, yet the Agency refrained from condemning this illegal action.
When asked whether there was hope for returning to Iran, Grossi replied: “Yes, absolutely. We take this matter very seriously. Recently, after prolonged negotiations, IAEA inspectors returned to Iran. As a first step toward resuming inspections, they visited the Bushehr reactor.”
He added: “However, we still need to agree on a set of technical procedures and protocols to gain access to all sites, including those damaged in the attacks. Nuclear materials remain buried under the rubble of these sites, and such materials continue to be of concern to the international community. We are working to restore the lines of communication that were severed due to the attacks.”
Grossi emphasized the importance of dialogue and reiterated the need to remain committed to diplomacy.
He asserted: “For me, for Iran, and even for those who attacked Iran, it is absolutely clear that a sustainable solution to Iran’s nuclear issue can only be achieved through diplomacy.”
Acknowledging that military strikes do not eliminate Iran’s nuclear capabilities, Grossi admitted: “Military attacks may have short-term effects, but the reality is that technical expertise and technology remain, and what is destroyed can be rebuilt.”
He also rejected claims that IAEA reports served as a green light for military action, saying: “That’s completely false. Our reports merely reflected the status of Iran’s nuclear program, without any new or surprising information that could justify military intervention. Even regarding nuclear weapons development, my report explicitly stated that Iran had no program to build nuclear weapons—and still doesn’t. So if anyone thinks my report was a reason for war, they are entirely mistaken.”