During the 12-day war, Israel struck Iranian military and nuclear sites, later joined by US airstrikes
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who led the Iranian delegation in the three rounds of talks held so far, said Iran was ready for a “fair and balanced deal”. PHOTO: AFP
Iran warned on Thursday of new attacks on its country after the head of the UN nuclear watchdog said he feared a possible “renewed use of force” if diplomatic efforts with Tehran failed.
In mid-June, Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran, sparking a war in which Iran responded with missile and drone strikes.
During the 12-day war, Israel targeted Iranian military and nuclear sites as well as residential areas, with the United States later joining in with strikes on key nuclear facilities.
Read more: Iran accuses the US of blocking the N-negotiations
The conflict derailed nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington that had begun in April. A ceasefire between Iran and Israel has been in effect since June 24.
In an interview published Wednesday in the Swiss newspaper Le Temps, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Raphael Grossi said “if diplomacy fails, I fear a new use of force.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday that it was unclear whether Grossi’s remarks were intended “out of concern or as a threat.”
“But those issuing such threats must understand that repeating a failed experience will only lead to another failure,” he added in a video released by the State Department.
Tensions between Iran and the IAEA rose in the immediate aftermath of the 12-day war, with Tehran suspending cooperation with the agency over what it described as its failure to adequately condemn the Israeli and US strikes.
Read also: Iran’s nuclear saga
In September, Iran and the IAEA agreed a new cooperation framework, but weeks later Tehran ruled that framework invalid after Britain, France and Germany triggered the return of UN sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal.
That agreement was effectively torpedoed in 2018 when the US unilaterally withdrew from it during President Donald Trump’s first term.
During his interview, Grossi said that Iran since the war had imposed “limits on inspections because it fears for its security” and only allowed inspectors in “sparingly.”
According to the IAEA, Iran is the only non-nuclear-weapon country to enrich uranium to 60%, close to the 90% limit required for a bomb.
“If they took the next steps, Iran would have enough material for about 10 nuclear bombs,” Grossi said.
“However, we have no evidence that Tehran was seeking to acquire nuclear weapons.”
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