IAEA Chief Grossi urges Iran to comply with NPT agreement while former DM Gantz warns nuclear threat remains

International Atomic Energy Agency Director Rafael Grossi recently told the Financial Times that Iran must “seriously improve” its cooperation with UN inspectors or risk worsening relations with Western nations. 

Grossi noted that while UN inspectors have carried out roughly a dozen inspections since the end of the 12-day Israel-Iran war last June, none have taken place at the three nuclear facilities struck by Israel and the United States: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

Following those strikes, around 400 kg (880 lbs) of highly-enriched uranium remains unaccounted for. 

“We should have already resumed the inspection work,” Grossi told the Financial Times. 

The IAEA head also said that Iran needs to meet its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. 

“You cannot say, ‘I remain within the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons treaty’, and then not comply with obligations,” he stated. 

Iran initially suspended all cooperation with the IAEA following the war, accusing the UN body of justifying Israel’s strikes, which launched the war. 

While Iran did allow some inspections to resume after reaching an agreement with Grossi in September, the E3 nations assessed that Iran’s steps were insufficient to prevent the triggering of “snapback sanctions,” which were reimposed at the end of that month. 

Still, Grossi said that the lack of knowledge regarding the status of the highly-enriched uranium “is a source of concern.” 

Meanwhile, former IDF Chief of Staff and former Defense Minister Benny Gantz warned on Monday that Iran’s nuclear program remains a “global challenge and threat to the State of Israel.” 

Gantz, a former member of the Israeli War Cabinet – and opposition Blue & White party leader – spoke at a web event hosted by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where he shared a plan for Israel’s security, called "Israel’s Security Vision 2040."

“Iran is a global challenge, it's a regional challenge, and it's also a threat for the State of Israel. And I think the world and the region should be aware of what I've just said,” Gantz stated during the event. 

Gantz also said that the region “should deal with Iran, not because of an Israeli interest, because Israel will take care of itself, but for global interest.” 

He praised the U.S. involvement in bombing Iran’s nuclear sites, preventing the immediate development of any nuclear weapons. 

“I'm very happy with President Trump's decision to take part in this assault and use American capacity to deal with the nuclear aspect,” Gantz noted. 

While he suggested that Israel continue to pursue a defensive posture towards Iran, he said it should neutralize “their defensive element” to ensure Israeli freedom of operation. 

“On the military side, we must operate against the nuclear or offensive capacity of Iran. I think we should operate in [a] defensive aspect from our perspective, but neutralizing their defensive element in case we need to use our offensive capacity.” 

Gantz pushed for international cooperation regarding a nuclear Iran, but noted that Israel retains the right to act in its own interests. 

“If America can come up, or the international community can come up with an excellent agreement, with no strategic blinking, fine with me. If we [have] inspection anytime, anywhere, zero warning, and zero tolerance for any obstacles that we find, then fine with me. I have nothing against the Iranian people, obviously. But when something goes wrong, we will have to act.’