Mon Jun 23 13:00:38 UTC 2025: ## IAEA Chief Warns of ‘Unimaginable’ Destruction as Iran Mulls NPT Exit After Strikes
**Vienna, Austria** – The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is urgently calling for a return to negotiations between Iran and the United States after recent military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi warned of “unimaginable” consequences if the conflict escalates, following attacks by Israel and the U.S. that have reportedly inflicted significant damage to key Iranian nuclear sites.
Grossi, addressing an emergency IAEA board meeting, revealed that US-dropped bombs caused visible craters at Fordow, a critical uranium enrichment facility. He also confirmed damage to Natanz and Isfahan, where fuel enrichment and uranium conversion processes were targeted, respectively. While the full extent of the damage, particularly underground at Fordow, remains unknown, Grossi stated it is expected to be “very significant.”
The strikes, which began with Israeli action on June 13, were allegedly launched based on claims that Iran was nearing nuclear weapon development. The U.S. later joined the offensive, with President Trump claiming the strikes “obliterated” the targeted sites.
In response, Iran has launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks against Israel and has threatened further action against the U.S. Tehran is also considering withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and suspending cooperation with the IAEA. Iranian officials have accused Grossi and the IAEA of bias, alleging that their reporting on Iran’s nuclear program provided a “pretext” for the attacks.
Despite the tensions, Grossi refrained from directly condemning Israel or the U.S., instead emphasizing that “armed attacks on nuclear facilities should never take place.” He reiterated the need for IAEA inspectors to be granted access to assess the damage and verify the integrity of nuclear materials. “I’m ready to travel immediately to Iran. We need to keep working together despite existing differences,” he stated.
Former IAEA official Tariq Rauf estimates that Iran’s short-term nuclear enrichment capacity has been damaged, but notes that a significant amount of enriched uranium remains unaccounted for, requiring IAEA verification.
The international community is watching closely as the situation unfolds, with the IAEA playing a crucial role in attempting to de-escalate tensions and ensure the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program. The future of the region hinges on the resumption of negotiations and the prevention of further military action.
First Piper 