Blinken Commends Grossi for Agency's Efforts on Iran's Nuclear Program

On Friday, March 16, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in Vienna, emphasizing the U.S. unwavering support for the agency's mission to ensure nuclear safety and safeguards, including at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine and addressing outstanding safeguards issues related to Iran's nuclear program. During the meeting, Blinken called the agency's role in assisting member states to develop and benefit from the peaceful application of nuclear energy in combating climate change vital. He praised Grossi's leadership, stating that through the agency's ongoing efforts, particularly regarding Iran and addressing the challenges posed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear facilities, global nuclear safety and security can be assured. Grossi also stated that without U.S. support, the IAEA would not be able to fulfill its duties, crediting the establishment of the agency to Dwight Eisenhower's speech 70 years ago at the UN General Assembly. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States, in this speech on December 8, 1953, known as the "Atoms for Peace" speech, stated that the U.S. would provide equipment and information on the peaceful use of nuclear energy to schools, hospitals, and research institutions in the U.S. and around the world. On March 5, Grossi presented a report at the Board of Governors meeting outlining the agency's concerns regarding Iran's nuclear activities. He expressed "deep regret" that Iran has not changed its decision to prohibit the activities of several experienced agency inspectors, emphasizing that Iran has halted the implementation of the Additional Protocol for three years and restricted the agency's access. The IAEA Director General also noted the lack of progress in resolving remaining safeguards issues, stressing that Iran has not provided "credible technical explanations" for the presence of "human-origin uranium particles in Varamin and Torqozabad." Meanwhile, on March 8, the U.S. warned Iran that continued "obstruction" regarding cooperation with the IAEA would pave the way for further actions by the Board of Governors, including the possibility of more resolutions against Iran. The U.S. called on Iran to cooperate with inspectors who have long sought explanations regarding the origin of uranium particles at some undeclared sites during the quarterly Board of Governors meeting attended by 35 members. In the meeting, the U.S., UK, France, and Germany chose not to pursue a new resolution against Iran, similar to the previous three months' session. However, the U.S. threatened that if Iran continues to refuse cooperation, further actions would be taken against the regime. Meanwhile, the three European countries, France, Germany, and the UK, issued a joint statement expressing concern over the expansion of Iran's nuclear activities and called for Tehran to return to its JCPOA commitments and halt uranium enrichment beyond the permitted levels. Grossi stated that he discussed Iran's nuclear program with Putin. The U.S. warned Iran about the continued "obstruction" for cooperation with the agency. The necessity of safety at the Ukrainian nuclear power plant; the IAEA Secretary-General has gone to Russia. The European troika warned Iran: stop "unauthorized" enrichment. The U.S. stated that Iran must "dilute" all of its 60% enriched uranium stock. Grossi noted that Iran's enriched uranium reserves continue to increase.