Global Call for Nuclear Responsibility
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi called for a strengthened global commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and international law while confirming ongoing contacts with both Iran and the United States during a press conference ahead of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Process in New York City on Wednesday.
“This is a collective responsibility,” Grossi said, adding, “We all need to uphold the Non-Proliferation Treaty. We need to work for a world with less nuclear weapons. We need to uphold international law in every circumstance.”
Concerns Over Iran’s Nuclear Programme
Speaking about Iran’s nuclear programme, Grossi said the agency had been granted access to a newly declared facility but was unable to carry out an inspection due to the start of hostilities.
“They indicated to us that they had a new facility to declare, and we immediately requested access to it, which was granted,” he said. “We were not in a position to visit this place. So we could not say at this point whether this place was simply an empty hole or a place where, already, cascades and centrifuges were being placed for operation.”
Grossi also added that the IAEA expects to resume inspections once access becomes possible.
“I hope when the inspectors return, we can do the inspection work that is required.”
Challenges of Oversight During Conflict
He further noted that ongoing conflicts complicate nuclear oversight, particularly when linked to concerns over potential weapons development.
“A war… constitutes a challenge because, of course, there are sites in a war, and people obviously do not see eye to eye on why it happened,” Grossi said.
Nuclear Safety Risks and Upcoming NPT Review
He also highlighted continued risks related to nuclear facilities in conflict zones, including ongoing discussions involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States. “Our main preoccupation is the safety of the facility and to avoid a nuclear accident.”
Grossi’s remarks come ahead of the Eleventh Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), scheduled to take place in 2026 at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), established in 1957 and headquartered in Vienna, is the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, responsible for monitoring nuclear programmes, verifying compliance with non-proliferation commitments, and promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy across its member states.
Article by Viory
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