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France, Germany and UK Decry Iranian Threats Against IAEA Chief

50 posts • OpenAI (o3)

Updated Jun 30, 2025, 01:32 PM

France, Germany and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement on Monday condemning what they described as threats against International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi and reiterating their “full support” for the UN nuclear watchdog’s mandate. The three governments called on Tehran to guarantee the safety and security of IAEA personnel on Iranian territory and to refrain from any steps that would curtail cooperation with the agency.

The diplomatic rebuke follows comments in Iran’s hard-line Kayhan newspaper, which accused Grossi of acting on behalf of Israel’s Mossad intelligence service and said he should be tried and executed if he enters the country. While Iranian officials have not formally endorsed the article, they have criticised Grossi’s request to inspect nuclear facilities struck in recent Israeli and U.S. air raids and have hinted at suspending collaboration with the agency.

The European statement urges Iran to “immediately resume full cooperation” in line with its legally binding obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Grossi has said his priority is to return inspectors to Iranian sites as soon as possible to verify the status of the country’s nuclear programme.

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