ALBAWABA- In a recent interview with Le Monde, Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), warned that Iran is dangerously close to possessing nuclear weapons.
In an interview with Le Monde, Grossi emphasized that any agreement between Iran and the United States on Tehran’s nuclear program would be "just ink on paper" without the IAEA's direct involvement.
Grossi expressed concern that his agency has been excluded from the bilateral negotiations currently taking place between Iran and the U.S., initially mediated in Oman.
“We are not part of the dialogue between Mr. Araghchi and Mr. Witkoff, but we are not indifferent to it. They know very well that we must be involved because we will be the ones to verify any agreement,” he stated. He added that informal exchanges with both sides have already begun.
The first phase of the indirect talks concluded in Oman, while the U.S. is now proposing Rome as the location for the second round.
This shift has reportedly frustrated Iran, with the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman criticizing the move, likening it to “moving the goalpost in football,” and accusing hardline U.S. actors of undermining trust and rational diplomacy.
“We are still in the testing phase,” the spokesman said, cautioning that such behavior signals a lack of seriousness and could endanger any hope of a diplomatic breakthrough.
Notably, the broader P5+1 group remains sidelined from these talks, underscoring growing tensions over the format and transparency of the negotiations.
