Latest news with #RafaelMarianoGrossi
Dubai Eye
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Dubai Eye
Radiation levels in Gulf remain normal, says UN nuclear watchdog
Radiation levels in the Gulf region remain normal after the 12-day Israel-Iran conflict severely damaged several nuclear facilities in Iran, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said. Grossi noted that any significant radioactive release would have been detected by the 48-nation International Radiation Monitoring System (IRMIS). He added that "Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant and the Tehran Research Reactor represented our main concern as any strike affecting those facilities – including their off-site power lines – could have caused a radiological accident with potential consequences in Iran as well as beyond its borders". "It did not happen, and the worst nuclear safety scenario was thereby avoided." Grossi reiterated that nuclear facilities should never be attacked, and emphasised the need for IAEA inspectors to continue their verification activities in Iran. He added that information from Iran's Nuclear Regulatory Authority show there is no increased off-site radiation levels in the nuclear sites.
Arab Times
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab Times
No Radiation Leak Detected In Gulf After Ceasefire, IAEA Confirms
DUBAI, June 28 (AP): The United Nations' nuclear watchdog has confirmed that radiation levels across the Gulf region remain within normal limits following the recent 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran. In a statement released Thursday, Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), acknowledged that the airstrikes exchanged between the two nations caused significant damage to several of Iran's nuclear facilities. Key Iranian nuclear sites, including Bushehr and Fordow, were among those targeted during coordinated Israeli and U.S. military operations. The conflict came to an unexpected end with a ceasefire announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump early Tuesday. Grossi emphasized that any major radioactive release would have been detected by the IAEA's global radiation monitoring system. 'A 48-nation network monitors radiation levels and would have registered any significant emissions from compromised nuclear reactors,' he noted, referring to the International Radiation Monitoring Information System (IRMIS), which regularly receives regional data. 'Our primary concern from a nuclear safety standpoint was the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant and the Tehran Research Reactor,' Grossi explained. 'A direct strike on these facilities or their external power supply could have triggered a radiological accident with potentially serious consequences for Iran and neighboring countries—particularly in the case of Bushehr.' Fortunately, he added, no such incident occurred. 'The worst-case nuclear safety scenario was avoided.' Grossi reiterated the IAEA's long-standing position that nuclear facilities must never be targeted during armed conflict and stressed the importance of allowing inspectors continued access to verify Iran's nuclear activities. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced Friday that a bill suspending cooperation with the IAEA has now become legally binding, following its approval by Iranian lawmakers and the country's top vetting authority.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Nuclear watchdog chief: Iran's atomic sites suffered ‘enormous damage', Fordow ‘no longer operational'
Rafael Mariano Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), confirmed that Israeli strikes earlier this month caused 'very significant physical damage' to Iran's nuclear infrastructure. In an interview with RFI's Le Grand Invité International on June 26, Grossi said the facilities at Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow — central to Iran's uranium enrichment operations — had been hit hard. 'I think 'annihilated' is too much. But it suffered enormous damage,' Grossi said, emphasising that while some sites remained intact, the affected facilities were among the most critical to Iran's nuclear program. Responding to US President Donald Trump's claim that the strikes had delayed Iran's nuclear capabilities by 'several decades,' Grossi referenced past intelligence misjudgments. He said such timelines are highly subjective. 'This chronological approach… has a not-so-happy tradition… It depends on the parameters you want to apply.' Using satellite imagery and institutional knowledge of Iran's nuclear infrastructure, the IAEA has made preliminary assessments of the damage. At Fordow, a major underground enrichment facility, Grossi said images showed evidence of high-penetration bomb strikes, likely destroying key equipment. Describing the enrichment hall as 'no longer an operational facility,' he said: 'These centrifuges are fairly precise machines… the vibrations have completely destroyed them.' Grossi also addressed concerns over Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium, which was measured at over 400 kilograms just before the conflict. He confirmed IAEA inspectors were present until June 12—one day before the strikes—and had conducted daily inventories. Iran had signalled it would take protective measures, he said, likely indicating it moved the uranium to secure locations. Following the ceasefire, Grossi sent a diplomatic request to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to begin coordinating the inspectors' return. However, he said, no response has been received so far. The situation became more precarious after Iranian lawmakers voted to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, accusing the agency of bias for not condemning the Israeli strikes. Grossi warned that such a move would constitute a breach of international obligations. Noting that unilateral suspension would place Iran outside the framework of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), he said: 'The agency's presence in Iran is not some kind of generous gesture… It is a legal obligation.' If inspections continue to be blocked, Grossi said he may be forced to convene the IAEA Board of Governors. Meanwhile, Trump accused Democrats of leaking classified details about the US strikes on Iran. In a Truth Social post, he said 'They should be prosecuted.' Separately, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has staunchly defended the strikes, claiming they 'decimated… obliterated' the country's nuclear program — despite early intelligence reports suggesting otherwise. (Source: RFI – Le Grand Invité International)
Scoop
2 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Iran: Return To Inspections Top Priority For UN Nuclear Agency
25 June 2025 Rafael Mariano Grossi was speaking to reporters in Austria following a briefing to the Government in Vienna. Israel began launching air and missile strikes against Iranian military and nuclear sites nearly two weeks ago, and the United States carried out surprise bombing raids on three Iranian uranium enrichment facilities this past weekend. A ceasefire between Iran and Israel, announced on social media by US President Donald Trump on Monday night, is fragile but holding. However, the extent of damage to Iran's enriched uranium stockpile remains unclear. Iran says protective measures taken Following the initial attacks, Iran informed the IAEA that it would take 'special measures' to protect its nuclear materials and equipment. Mr. Grossi told journalists that he has received a letter from the Iranian Foreign Minister which said protective measures have been taken. 'They did not get into details into what that meant, but clearly that was the implicit meaning of that. So, we can imagine that this material is there,' he said. To confirm this, and to evaluate the situation, 'we need to return,' he added. Inspections vital On Wednesday, Iran's parliament approved a bill to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, according to media reports, which has to be approved by the executive branch of the Government. Mr. Grossi said he wrote to Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday requesting that they meet 'to analyze the modalities' for inspections to continue. He stressed that the international community 'cannot afford' for the inspection regime to be interrupted. The IAEA chief was also asked about Iran's plans to withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a key international accord aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons. The move would be 'very regrettable,' he said. 'I hope this is not the case. I don't think this would help anybody, starting with Iran. This would lead to isolation, all sorts of problems.'
Muscat Daily
3 days ago
- Politics
- Muscat Daily
NCEM joins IAEA-led exercise to test nuclear crisis response
Muscat – National Emergency Management Centre (NCEM) participated in ConvEx-3, a large-scale international nuclear emergency exercise coordinated by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and hosted virtually by Romania. The two-day simulation, which concluded on Wednesday, was designed to test global readiness in the event of a radiological crisis. The exercise simulated a severe radiological leak at Romania's Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant and involved more than 75 countries and ten international organisations. The drill assessed emergency preparedness through a series of complex scenarios and evaluated response mechanisms at national and international levels. Oman's participation involved several agencies under NCEM, with a focus on enhancing coordination, testing alert systems and enhancing inter-agency communication during a nuclear emergency. NCEM stated that the exercise supported national efforts to align with international best practices, improve emergency procedures, and reinforce the country's ability to respond to radiological threats swiftly and effectively. Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of IAEA, said the exercise demonstrated the global community's shared commitment to safety. 'This exercise was a clear demonstration of the international community's commitment to protect people and the environment by working together, across borders and systems, when every minute counts.' Cantemir Ciurea-Ercău, President of Romania's National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control, noted that hosting the exercise highlighted Romania's longstanding commitment to nuclear safety. 'In today's interconnected world, effective preparedness must transcend borders – this exercise reflected our shared commitment to safety, cooperation and transparency,' he said. ConvEx-3 was the largest simulation of its kind conducted by IAEA and was part of efforts to strengthen global nuclear and radiological emergency preparedness through collaboration and regular testing.
