US Secretary Marco Rubio condemns calls in Iran for arrest, execution of IAEA chief
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on Iran to uphold its responsibility to protect staff from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), following alarming threats against the agency's leadership.
In a statement posted on X, Rubio condemned calls reportedly circulating in Iran for the arrest and execution of IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. "Calls in Iran for the arrest and execution of IAEA Director General Grossi are unacceptable and should be condemned," he wrote.
Rubio reaffirmed Washington's support of the IAEA's oversight role in Iran's nuclear activities, praising Grossi and the agency for their "dedication and professionalism".
"We continue to support the IAEA's vital monitoring mission in Iran and urge Iranian authorities to guarantee the safety of all IAEA personnel," he added.
Check out his full statement below:
Calls in Iran for the arrest and execution of IAEA Director General Grossi are unacceptable and should be condemned.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) June 28, 2025
The remarks came days after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made his first public statement since the ceasefire, declaring that Iran had "slapped America in the face" with its missile strike on a key US military base in Qatar. The attack was described as a direct response to earlier US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz.
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