Iran nuclear weapon: facts vs delusions

(MENAFN) The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has stated that it has found no proof that Iran is actively pursuing the development of a nuclear weapon, according to the agency’s director, Rafael Grossi.

This statement comes amid escalating conflict after Israel launched airstrikes on Iran last Friday, claiming Tehran was close to producing a nuclear bomb. Since then, both sides have engaged in a series of retaliatory attacks.

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his belief on Tuesday that Iran was “very close” to acquiring a nuclear weapon, a stance that contrasts with earlier remarks from his director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, who said Iran “is not building” such a weapon. Iranian officials maintain their nuclear activities are peaceful and within their rights.

In an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Grossi acknowledged ongoing debates about the timeframe Iran would require to build a nuclear bomb, saying, “Certainly, it was not for tomorrow, maybe not a matter of years.”

He explained that while Iran may have sufficient enriched uranium, creating a nuclear weapon would also require sophisticated technology and extensive testing.

Despite over twenty years of inspections at Iranian nuclear facilities, the UN watchdog “did not have… any proof of a systematic effort to move into a nuclear weapon” by Iran, Grossi stated.

He emphasized, “What we are telling you is what we have been able to prove. The material is there. There have been, in the past, some activities related to the development of nuclear weapons, but we did not have, at this point, these elements.”

Just before Israel’s airstrikes began, the IAEA adopted a resolution criticizing Iran for failing to meet its nuclear non-proliferation obligations. The agency noted Iran had “repeatedly” failed to demonstrate that its nuclear material was not being diverted for military enrichment purposes.

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