US-Iran Conflict: US President Donald Trump's claim that Iran is developing a nuclear weapon is facing questions after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that Tehran does not appear to be actively building one. IAEA Director Rafael Mariano Grossi on Wednesday stated that there is no evidence that Iran is building a nuclear bomb, but Tehran's refusal to provide access to its sites is a "big concern".
Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that Iran is "very close" to acquiring a nuclear weapon, asserting that Tehran cannot be allowed to possess one. The allegation has also been used to justify recent military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, killing its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The two countries have previously carried out attacks on Iranian-linked military and nuclear-related sites in recent years amid growing concerns over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
What did IAEA chief say?
In a post on X, Grossi said that so far, there is no evidence that Iran is building a nuclear bomb. However, he warned that Iran's refusal to give IAEA inspectors full access to its sites is still a serious concern, considering its large stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium. He added that until Iran fully cooperates and resolves these issues, the IAEA cannot be sure that its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes.
"I have been very clear and consistent in my reports on Iran's nuclear programme: while there has been no evidence of Iran building a nuclear bomb, its large stockpile of near-weapons grade enriched uranium and refusal to grant my inspectors full access are cause for serious concern. For these reasons, my previous reports indicate that unless and until Iran assists the @IAEAorg in resolving the outstanding safeguards issues, the Agency will not be in a position to provide assurance that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful," Grossi wrote on X.
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In an interview with CNN earlier, Grossi said the IAEA found no proof of a planned nuclear weapons program in Iran. According to him, while Iran's rising uranium stockpile and its lack of transparency are worrying, there is no sign that it is ready to build a nuclear bomb soon. He noted that countries like the US or Israel may see Tehran's activities as steps toward nuclear weapons, but the IAEA focuses on assessing facts, not judging intentions.
"We have many reasons for concern, but there wasn't a bomb tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Countries like the US or Israel may perceive these activities as directly aimed at nuclear weapon development, but the IAEA does not judge intentions, it assesses facts," he said.
His remarks come at a time when US President Donald Trump declared that strikes on Iran were necessary to prevent them from obtaining nuclear weapons. He had called the regime "crazy people" who would have used a bomb if they had access to one.