A diplomatic rift is deepening between Iran and Western powers following Tehran’s suspension of cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog and rising tensions over its director’s safety.
French President Emmanuel Macron brought diplomatic urgency to the fore during a recent phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, urging Tehran to respect the ceasefire with Israel and resume cooperation with the IAEA.
Macron called for a return to negotiations addressing both ballistic missile and nuclear concerns, while pressing for “the swift resumption of the IAEA’s work in Iran to ensure full transparency.”
President Pezeshkian has defended Iran’s decision to halt cooperation with the IAEA, blaming what he described as the agency’s “unjustified, unconstructive, and destructive conduct.”
According to Iranian state media, Pezeshkian told Macron the IAEA’s perceived double standards had contributed to instability in the region, and that the recent parliamentary bill to suspend cooperation was a natural response to the watchdog’s behaviour.
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The diplomatic tensions come amid escalating rhetoric in Iran, where the ultra-conservative Kayhan newspaper – known for its ties to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – accused Grossi of acting on behalf of Israel’s Mossad and called for him to be tried and executed.
While the Iranian government has not officially endorsed the article, it has refused to condemn the rhetoric and has hardened its stance against Grossi.
On Monday, France, Germany, and the UK issued a joint statement voicing support for the IAEA and Grossi, saying, “We condemn threats against the Director General of the IAEA Rafael Grossi and reiterate our full support to the Agency and the DG in carrying out their mandate.”
They urged Iran to reverse steps suspending cooperation, warning that halting inspections would undermine global non-proliferation efforts.
“We call on Iranian authorities to refrain from any steps to cease cooperation with the IAEA,” the statement continued, calling for Iran to honour its legally binding obligations.
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Restoring nuclear inspections
Grossi has not directly addressed the newspaper’s accusations, but reaffirmed that his focus remains on restoring inspector access to Iranian nuclear sites.
Iran, however, has said it cannot guarantee the safety of inspectors in the current climate.
Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told reporters that with Iran’s nuclear sites recently struck by Israeli and US forces, it was “unrealistic” to expect Tehran to ensure inspector security.
“One aspect of this issue is how to ensure the safety and security of the agency's inspectors, in a situation where there is still no accurate assessment of the severity of the damage,” he said.
He added that the IAEA had failed to condemn the attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, further justifying Tehran’s decision to curtail cooperation.
