IAEA head blames Trump for pushing Iran closer to developing nuclear weapons

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has blamed former US President Donald Trump’s policies for escalating the nuclear threat around the world, suggesting that his approach to Iran has pushed the country closer to developing its own nuclear weapons.

Grossi, quoted by Bloomberg, expressed concern that Trump’s tough stance on Iran had led the country to seriously consider the development of nuclear arms, which they had previously avoided, per Caliber.Az.

Grossi pointed out that Iran is not the only country now contemplating nuclear weapons. He noted that the new US administration has shown no intention of defending the international order based on rules, prompting more nations to question whether they too should pursue their own nuclear deterrents in an increasingly unstable global environment.

“A few years ago, this discussion about nuclear weapons would have been taboo. But now these conversations are taking place in some countries. It’s a constant erosion of norms,” Grossi said.

The US has historically played a crucial role in preserving nuclear non-proliferation by providing military protection to its allies and threatening sanctions on any nation seeking to build nuclear weapons. However, Grossi argues that these sanctions are no longer effective, citing Iran’s progress toward acquiring nuclear capability. He explained that over time, countries adapt to sanctions, and in some cases, the prolonged sanctions may even encourage them to pursue nuclear weapons to gain leverage in future negotiations.

Grossi warned that if Iran ultimately succeeds in developing nuclear weapons, it could trigger a “proliferation cascade,” where other nations follow suit. Former US Ambassador to the IAEA, Laura Holgate, echoed this sentiment, stating, “If Iran goes nuclear, others could follow. That could overcome the non-proliferation taboo and lower the barrier for other countries.”

Arms control experts have expressed concerns that the Trump administration's reliance on threats and economic coercion instead of diplomacy could encourage more countries to seek nuclear weapons.

Officials from countries such as Germany, Japan, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea have publicly raised the need for their own nuclear deterrent in recent years, particularly in light of Ukraine’s experience. Ukraine gave up its Soviet-era nuclear weapons in exchange for security guarantees, but those guarantees ultimately failed to protect the country.

By Tamilla Hasanova