World Blog by humble servant.No Evidence Iran Is Developing Nuclear Bomb, Says IAEA Chief, Refuting Israel and Trump Claims

No Evidence Iran Is Developing Nuclear Bomb, Says IAEA Chief, Refuting Israel and Trump Claims

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has found no proof that Iran is systematically working to produce a nuclear weapon, according to its Director General, Rafael Grossi. This statement contradicts recent assertions by Israel and U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed Tehran was close to developing a nuclear bomb. Israel began bombing Iran on Friday, citing an imminent nuclear threat, prompting retaliatory drone and missile strikes from Iran. The ongoing conflict has led to significant casualties, with reports indicating 585 deaths in Iran, including 239 civilians, and 24 deaths in Israel, alongside hundreds injured and thousands evacuated.

Grossi, in a CNN interview, clarified that while Iran possesses enriched uranium, transforming it into a nuclear weapon requires advanced technology and extensive testing, which the IAEA has not observed. Despite over two decades of inspections, the agency has found no evidence of a concerted effort by Iran to develop nuclear weapons, though past activities related to such development were noted. Grossi emphasized that claims about Iran’s timeline for producing a bomb—whether imminent or years away—lack substantiation based on current IAEA findings.

Former UK Ambassador to Iran Richard Dalton echoed this assessment, stating there is no public evidence supporting Israel’s claim that Iran is on the verge of nuclear weaponization. U.S. intelligence, Dalton noted, shows no shift in Iran’s policy, which officially rejects weapons of mass destruction. He urged skepticism toward Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assertions until concrete evidence emerges.

Tensions have escalated since the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which limited Iran’s uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief, was abandoned by the U.S. in 2018 under Trump. Iran has since reduced compliance, enriching uranium to 60% purity—well above the agreement’s 3.67% cap—and restricted IAEA access to its nuclear sites. A recent IAEA resolution criticized Iran’s non-compliance, particularly its inability to prove that nuclear material is not being diverted for military purposes. In response, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi announced plans to limit cooperation with the IAEA, citing the agency’s failure to condemn Israel’s attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Russia has condemned Israel’s airstrikes, warning that targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure risks a “nuclear catastrophe” and violates international law. The Russian Foreign Ministry called for de-escalation to prevent further threats to global stability. The conflict has also driven up oil prices, with analysts attributing the surge to the Israel-Iran hostilities.