
Iran hunting IAEA's Rafael Grossi? Panic grips US over alleged execution plot
Published on Jun 30, 2025 12:31 AM IST
Iranian lawmakers have escalated tensions with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by voting to suspend cooperation and barring IAEA chief Rafael Grossi from visiting bombed nuclear sites, following accusations that Grossi "betrayed" Iran by not condemning Israeli and US strikes on its nuclear facilities. Argentina, Grossi's home country, and the United States have condemned what they describe as threats against Grossi. Watch for more

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India.com
31 minutes ago
- India.com
Iran Asks UN To Recognise US, Israel As Aggressors In Recent Attacks
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Sunday wrote a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UNSC President Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett to recognise Israel and the United States as the initiators of the "aggression" against Iran. According to the IANS citing IRNA news agency, Araghchi urged the UNSC to fulfil its responsibility in maintaining international peace and security. He also accused Israel of intentionally striking residential buildings, civilians, and essential infrastructure, calling the attacks a "clear violation" of the UN Charter and a "gross breach" of international law. Araghchi stated that Israel and the United States had also attacked Iran's nuclear facilities — which are under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) — in a "serious breach of the UN Charter, the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and the IAEA's regulations and resolutions." The Iranian foreign minister also stressed that the UNSC should hold the "aggressors" accountable and act to prevent the recurrence of such "crimes." Earlier, on June 13, Israel launched major airstrikes on several areas in Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing senior commanders, nuclear scientists, and numerous civilians. Iran also responded Israel with multiple waves of missile and drone attacks. On June 22, US forces made an entery in support of Israel an bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities. In retaliation, Iran struck the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. After 12 days of fighting, a ceasefire between Iran and Israel was reached on Tuesday. (With IANS inputs)


India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Trump Reiterates Iran Nukes Were ‘Obliterated' – Intel Report Says Otherwise; So Who's Lying And Who Leaked The ‘Truth'?
New Delhi: U.S. President Donald Trump called the American bombing of Iran one of the most important military actions in recent memory. He praised the operation for its speed, accuracy and results. The remarks came after a 12-day campaign in which the United States and Israel carried out coordinated strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Talking to Fox News, he described the strikes as a necessary response to what he called 'clear and present threats'. He referred to the campaign as a peacekeeping operation. He also framed it as a decisive message to adversaries across the region. 'This was one of the most skilled and imperative operations of the last 40 years,' Trump said. He stressed that the goal was never to wage endless war, but to prevent one. He credited the US military for executing what he called a textbook operation. Trump said the campaign showed America's ability to act with force and precision when national security is at stake. 'The reign of terror in Iran is coming to a quick end,' he said, repeating a phrase that drew cheers from allies and sharp criticism from Tehran. The president also pointed to the intelligence used in the operation. He praised the targeting strategy and said it disrupted Iran's ability to carry out long-range attacks. 'You can go to bed peacefully tonight. They won't be launching missiles at us,' he said. Though the full extent of damage to Iran's nuclear facilities remains unclear, Trump claimed the operation had 'severely weakened' Tehran's capacity to develop or deliver nuclear weapons. He called the military operation a show of strength that other nations will take seriously. He closed his remarks with a salute to American troops, calling them 'the finest in the world'. The strikes followed weeks of rising tensions between Israel and Iran, with US officials warning of a potential regional escalation. With the ceasefire now in place, Washington has said its objectives were limited and precise. However, contrary to Trump's claim that three of Iran's nuclear sites were gone, obliterated and no longer a threat, a classified intelligence report said otherwise. It suggests damage may not be as complete as he claimed. The report, from the Defense Intelligence Agency, landed quietly but raised serious questions. Early analysis suggests the strikes may have delayed Iran's programme by a few months. No more. The language in the assessment was cautious. 'Low confidence,' it said. A phrase used when information is thin and conclusions are early. Back at the White House, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was pressed on the leaked report. She said only a few people had access. She said there would be a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) into the leak. Someone shared something they should not have, she said. And they would be found. Trump's words painted a picture of total destruction. But the intelligence coming in tells a more complicated story. Pieces are still falling into place. What is clear now is that the strike was strong, but the fallout is still unfolding.


Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Donald Trump again claims US strikes caused ‘final damage' to Iran's nuclear program, but UN watchdog has DOUBTS
Iran's nuclear program suffered significant damage from recent U.S. airstrikes but was not destroyed, and it could be operational again within months, according to the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog. In contrast, President Donald Trump offered a far more definitive assessment, telling Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures that the main nuclear site was reduced to 'just thousands of tons of rock in that room right now,' claiming the entire facility had been destroyed, adding 'we did the final damage'. "They did not move anything; they moved themselves. What we did was amazing; there were energy commissions that went there, and there were thousands of tons of rocks in the room. Everything was destroyed. And, the other two sites also. We did the final damage," said Trump. The head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, stated that recent US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities fell short of causing lasting damage to Tehran's nuclear capabilities. Grossi warned that Iran could resume uranium enrichment within 'a matter of months,' directly contradicting Donald Trump's claim that the strikes had 'completely and totally obliterated' the program and set it back by decades, CNN reported. Responding to conflicting assessments of recent U.S. strikes on Iran, Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), cautioned that Iran retains the capability to quickly resume its nuclear activities. Speaking to CBS's Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan, Grossi criticized the idea of relying on short-term military setbacks to counter long-term nuclear threats, CNN reported. 'This hourglass approach in weapons of mass destruction is not a good idea,' Grossi said. He explained that Iran still possesses the infrastructure to restart uranium enrichment rapidly: 'They can have, you know, in a matter of months, I would say, a few cascades of centrifuges spinning and producing enriched uranium, or less than that.' He added, 'Frankly speaking, one cannot claim that everything has disappeared and there is nothing there.' The 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, which began earlier this month, was triggered by a surprise Israeli offensive targeting Iran's nuclear infrastructure. Israel claimed the strikes were intended to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. In response, Iran strongly denied any nuclear weapons ambitions, reiterating that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes. Meanwhile, Tehran's nuclear program was also significantly damaged by the strikes, killing key scientists, damage to Iran's missile production industry and battering Iran's aerial defence system, according to the Israelis' assessment. (With inputs from agencies)