Israel-Iran collision risks ‘catastrophe’

(MENAFN) Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has warned that Israeli threats to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities could spiral into a “catastrophic” conflict. Speaking to the Financial Times, Grossi emphasized that failure in US-Iran nuclear negotiations could likely trigger military escalation from Israel.

Although Israel has not ruled out a strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure if diplomatic efforts collapse, US President Donald Trump has reportedly cautioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against any action that could derail negotiations aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear program.

Grossi noted the technical challenges of attacking Iran’s nuclear sites, highlighting that key installations are buried deep underground and heavily fortified. “I’ve been there many times—some of the most sensitive sites are located half a mile below the surface,” he said.

While Iran does not currently possess a nuclear weapon, it has stockpiled enough enriched material to potentially develop one, Grossi added. His agency remains concerned about the increasing levels of uranium enrichment by Tehran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated in a separate interview that Iran’s nuclear ambitions remain peaceful, citing a religious edict from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei banning nuclear weapons. However, Araghchi insisted that Iran will not accept any deal requiring it to halt domestic enrichment. “No enrichment, no deal. No nuclear weapons, we have a deal,” he stated.

Tensions between Iran and Israel have been rising, especially since the 2023 Gaza conflict, and have twice escalated into direct missile exchanges. The situation remains volatile, especially following Trump’s 2018 withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement, which prompted Iran to ramp up its enrichment activities.

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