Iran Condemns IAEA Silence Amid US Threats to Nuclear Sites

TEHRAN — Iran's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday sharply criticized the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for failing to address escalating United States threats against Iranian nuclear facilities, accusing the watchdog of abandoning its mandate to protect peaceful atomic programs. The statement marks a significant diplomatic fracture as tensions between Tehran and Washington reach critical levels.

Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry, declared that US rhetoric regarding potential military strikes on Iranian sites constitutes a direct violation of international law. Baghaei emphasized that the IAEA has remained conspicuously silent despite repeated warnings from American officials about possible kinetic action against infrastructure in Natanz and Fordow.

"The silence of the IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in the face of explicit US threats to attack peaceful nuclear facilities is unacceptable," Baghaei stated during a press briefing. He argued that such an omission undermines the agency's credibility as the global guardian of non-proliferation treaties and leaves Iran without international protection against what it describes as aggression.

The crisis stems from heightened friction over Tehran's uranium enrichment activities, which US officials have characterized as exceeding permissible limits under existing agreements. American administration representatives have recently signaled that military options are on the table if diplomatic channels fail to curb Iran's nuclear progress. While Washington maintains its stance is defensive and aimed at preventing a weapons capability, Iranian leaders frame any attack as an act of war against sovereign territory.

The IAEA has not issued a public statement addressing Baghaei's specific accusations regarding US threats or confirming whether it has formally raised the matter with member states in Geneva. Agency protocols typically require strict adherence to technical assessments and diplomatic neutrality, yet critics argue that silence in the face of potential military action amounts to complicity.

Diplomatic sources indicate that emergency consultations are underway within the IAEA Board of Governors as members seek clarity on how to proceed if violence erupts at nuclear sites. The situation remains fluid, with no confirmed timeline for a response from Director General Grossi or de-escalation measures proposed by either Tehran or Washington.

As regional allies monitor the standoff closely, questions remain regarding whether the IAEA will intervene before any potential conflict occurs and what legal mechanisms exist to shield civilian nuclear infrastructure in such scenarios. The international community watches as the prospect of a military strike looms over one of the world's most volatile flashpoints.