Washington, DC [US], June 29 (ANI): US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday called on Iran to ensure the safety and protection of personnel from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), amid growing tensions following recent military strikes and incendiary rhetoric from Tehran.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Rubio condemned the inflammatory calls reportedly emerging from within Iran for the arrest and execution of IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. “Calls in Iran for the arrest and execution of IAEA Director General Grossi are unacceptable and should be condemned,” he stated.
Rubio reaffirmed the United States’ support for the IAEA’s mission, saying, “We support the IAEA’s critical verification and monitoring efforts in Iran and commend the Director General and the IAEA for their dedication and professionalism. We call on Iran to provide for the safety and security of IAEA personnel.”
The statement comes in the wake of heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Earlier this week, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered his first public remarks since a ceasefire, claiming Iran had “slapped America in the face” by launching missiles at a major US military base in Qatar. The strikes were in retaliation for American air raids on key Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz.
Former US President Donald Trump, responding to Khamenei’s rhetoric, described the remarks as “a statement of anger, hatred, and disgust” and announced a halt to ongoing talks aimed at easing sanctions and restoring diplomatic channels with Iran.
In a press briefing at the White House, Trump confirmed that he would “without question, absolutely” consider authorizing further air strikes if Iran’s nuclear program was not dismantled.
Meanwhile, Iran has suspended cooperation with the IAEA following the Israeli strikes on its nuclear sites, which began on June 13. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday signaled Tehran’s resistance to renewed IAEA oversight, stating that Iran may reject future requests for site inspections. He called Grossi’s insistence on access “meaningless and possibly even malign in intent.”
According to reports from Al Jazeera, no IAEA inspections have taken place since mid-June, further complicating efforts to ensure transparency in Iran’s nuclear activities and raising concerns about potential non-compliance with international obligations.
The United States and its allies have expressed concern that the lack of inspections, coupled with aggressive rhetoric and military escalation, risks undermining regional stability and the integrity of the global non-proliferation regime.
(ANI)
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