UN nuclear watchdog contradicts Netanyahu, says ‘Iran not building Nuclear weapons’

June 18, 2025 by News Desk

In a significant rebuttal to longstanding allegations by Israel and the United States, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has publicly confirmed that the agency has found no evidence suggesting Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons program.

Speaking to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Tuesday, Grossi stated plainly: “What we reported was that we did not have any proof of a systematic effort [by Iran] to move toward a nuclear weapon.” His comments align with repeated statements from Iranian officials and previous IAEA reports, which have consistently denied the existence of a militarized nuclear agenda in Iran.

Grossi emphasized that the IAEA’s conclusions also correspond with assessments by other independent bodies, further undercutting claims pushed by Israeli and American officials.

The remarks come in the wake of renewed controversy over the IAEA’s latest quarterly report on Iran’s nuclear activities—criticized by Tehran as “politically motivated”—and days after the IAEA Board of Governors passed a censure resolution against Iran, accusing it of non-compliance. Iran rejected the resolution, arguing that its obligations under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) are no longer binding due to continued violations by Western signatories, particularly European states.

Nonetheless, Iran maintains its adherence to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the IAEA Safeguards Agreement. Iranian officials point out that the country’s nuclear policy remains peaceful, grounded in a fatwa (religious decree) issued by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which forbids the development or use of nuclear weapons.

The timing of Grossi’s clarification is notable, coming as the United States escalates threats to strike Iran’s nuclear infrastructure amid an intensifying military confrontation between Iran and Israel. Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday reiterated the discredited claim that Iran is covertly pursuing nuclear arms—rhetoric that stands in stark contrast to the IAEA’s official position.

Tensions further escalated after Israeli forces launched strikes deep inside Iranian territory last Friday, reportedly targeting military leaders, nuclear scientists, and civilians, including a direct assault on the Natanz nuclear facility in Isfahan. The attack drew widespread condemnation as a violation of international law.

In response, Iran launched a retaliatory campaign dubbed “True Promise III”, now in its eleventh phase, targeting Israeli military positions and infrastructure in what Tehran has characterized as a legitimate act of self-defense.

With Grossi’s admission now on the record, the credibility gap between Western narrative and verifiable international evidence continues to grow—raising pressing questions about the use of intelligence, media framing, and geopolitical pressure in shaping the discourse on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.