IAEA chief: Iran has technical capability, but no nuclear weapons yet

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi has said that while Iran currently does not possess nuclear weapons, it continues to withhold crucial information about its nuclear activities. 

Speaking in an interview with the Polish Rzeczpospolita paper, Grossi noted that even before the outbreak of the twelve-day War, the agency had flagged concerns about Iran's lack of transparency, Caliber.Az reports. 

Although there is no credible evidence indicating that Iran has already built a nuclear bomb, Grossi acknowledged that the country possesses the technical capacity to eventually produce one. He emphasized the distinction between having the potential to create nuclear weapons and actively pursuing their development.

According to Grossi, for Iran to move toward weaponization, several complex steps would be required. This includes converting enriched uranium into metal—a process Tehran has not yet begun—as well as developing intricate ignition and miniaturization systems needed for a nuclear warhead. These technical challenges mean that any shift toward actual nuclear armament would take months or more to complete.

Grossi, who emphasised his commitment to diplomacy and peaceful resolution, warned that Iran's size, economic power, and industrial capabilities cannot be neutralized through military action alone. He reiterated that any long-term solution must come through negotiation rather than confrontation.

The IAEA's ability to monitor Iran’s nuclear program has significantly diminished following the inspectors' expulsion, further complicating efforts to determine whether Tehran may be edging closer to acquiring nuclear weapons.

By Sabina Mammadli