New Delhi: The message from Tehran was blunt – no visit, no conversation. Iran’s foreign minister made it clear that there is no place for the nuclear chief United Nations (UN) in the country anytime soon.
This comes at a fragile moment. A war just ended. Missiles stopped. But the mistrust? Still burning.
IAEA director Rafael Grossi wanted to fly to Tehran. He hoped to assess damage. He wanted clarity after recent strikes. Iran shut the door. The foreign minister, speaking on national TV, said there is no point inviting someone who, in their words, failed to speak when it mattered.
He pointed to the strikes carried out by Israel and the United States. The assault hit deep. Iran’s nuclear sites suffered damages. Yet, no condemnation from the watchdog, Iran said. Silence when fire rained down.
Iran now has a new law in place. It puts a leash on cooperation with the IAEA. The law is not absolute, he said. But any movement now depends on Iran’s top National Security Council. Doors are not locked. But they are not wide open either.
Across the ocean, Washington was quick to react. The words came fast and firm. The U.S. Secretary of State condemned the threats coming from Iran, especially calls for Grossi’s arrest. He called them outrageous, dangerous and unacceptable. In his words, Grossi and the IAEA team deserved full support and safety, not fear.
The issue is spreading. Beyond Iran and the United States. Now it is Europe. The foreign minister did not mince words. He warned Britain, France and Germany against triggering the snapback. That move would bring back UN sanctions. Undo years of talks. Close doors for good. That, he said, would be a historic mistake.
Behind these loud statements lies history. The IAEA was never just another agency. Set up in 1957, born from the idea that atomic power should serve peace, not war. For decades, it has been the world’s nuclear conscience. Watching, measuring, asking questions no one else dares to.
Iran’s nuclear story with the IAEA runs long. Inspections. Reports. Accusations. Promises. Then more accusations. A dance that never ends. The 2015 deal had paused the music for a while. Limits were agreed upon. Inspectors had access. Sanctions were eased.
But then came 2018. The United States walked out. More sanctions came. Iran pulled back. They enriched more uranium. Let fewer inspectors in. Cameras went dark. Sites fell silent.
This month, the watchdog spoke again. It passed a resolution. Said Iran was hiding. Said Tehran did not answer key questions. Talked about secret sites. Traces of uranium. Tehran, again, called it political.
A day later, Israel struck. Missiles flew. Sites were hit. Some underground and some remote. Tensions rose again. On the surface, the war with Israel may be cooling. But below it, this quiet battle over atoms and trust is heating up.
Both sides dig in. One says it is about sovereignty. The other says it is about global safety. Between them stands a paper deal, worn thin. And a world watching, wondering – what happens when diplomacy stops knocking?
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