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NEW YORK CITY: The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, on Wednesday said that Iran is not developing nuclear weapons, pushing back against what he described as persistent misquoting of the agency’s position.

Speaking at the UN headquarters in New York, he said the Iranians “are not, and they were not,” attempting to develop nuclear weapons.

“I want to be very clear on this,” he added. “We are often misquoted about this and people say that we have said things we never said.”

Grossi, who has led the UN’s nuclear watchdog since 2019, said cooperation between Iran and the IAEA has fluctuated in recent months as a result of political developments, but Tehran had nonetheless reaffirmed its commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

“I have told our Iranian counterparts repeatedly that reducing cooperation is not the right response,” he said. “But I think it is a wise step that they have made clear they will not leave the NPT.”

IAEA inspections in Iran were temporarily withdrawn for safety reasons as a result of the “12-Day War,” between Iran and Israel in June, Grossi said. Efforts to resume engagement are ongoing, he added, highlighting in particular an agreement brokered in September in Cairo, under Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, that allows inspections to proceed again.

“The arrangement is not perfect but it is working,” Grossi said, adding that he remains in frequent contact with Iran’s foreign minister and other officials.

Asked about the Israeli and US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites during the conflict in June, Grossi said the damage to three facilities was “very considerable” and had set back Iran’s nuclear program.

“There is no doubt about this,” he added, cautioning that such incidents complicate the inspection work carried out by the IAEA.

He rejected claims in the Iranian media that reports compiled by his agency had contributed to regional conflict.

“It is not correct to attack an international organization and blame it for something that has nothing to do with it,” Grossi said. “Our reports reflect technical facts, not political judgments.”

During the briefing, Grossi also confirmed that he intends to stand as a candidate to replace UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose term will conclude at the end of 2026, and shared his motivation for doing so. He said he believes he can “make a contribution at this existential moment” for the organization.

“I think we all agree that the United Nations needs change,” Grossi told Arab News. “What made me decide to run is exactly what I am doing at the IAEA: leading an organization through difficult times, dealing with crises and still delivering results.”

He added that he would discuss his candidacy further “when the moment comes,” in line with procedures set out by the UN General Assembly and Security Council.

DAMASCUS: Kurdish forces in northern Syria killed two Syrian soldiers and wounded another in a missile attack on Wednesday, official state media reported, with the Kurds denying involvement and blaming land mines.
Citing the Syrian defense ministry, SANA news agency reported that the two soldiers were killed and a third “seriously injured” when their position near Tishrin Dam was targeted by the Syrian Democratic Forces with a guided missile.
The SDF is the military of the Kurdish administration which controls swathes of north and northeast Syria, where it runs a de facto autonomous province.
The SDF denied any involvement in the deaths, saying in a statement “we categorically affirm that this information is incorrect” and blaming the incident on “landmine explosions.”
Damascus accused the Kurdish forces of “violating the previous agreements.”
In early October, the SDF and the Damascus government agreed a ceasefire following deadly clashes in Aleppo.
The SDF said it reaffirmed its “commitment to the principle of de-escalation and maintaining stability along the contact lines.”
Since the overthrow of long-time president Bashar Assad in December, the Kurdish administration has clashed with Damascus over the future of the Kurds in the new Syria.
In March, the SDF signed an agreement with the new Damascus government to integrate the Kurdish military and civilian institutions into the central government.
However, differences between the two sides have prevented the implementation of the deal, and the Kurds have since called for decentralization, which Damascus has rejected.