Former Iranian spokesman accuses IAEA of political bias
A former spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry has criticized the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), accusing the UN nuclear watchdog of becoming a tool for Western powers following its latest report on Iran's nuclear program.
Ramin Mehmanparast told state-affiliated ISNA news agency that the IAEA’s recent report targeting Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities was politicized.
"The IAEA has unfortunately become a plaything of Western countries, and its positions on Iran are no longer technical but political," Mehmanparast said. He added that the agency’s stance aligns with efforts by the European Union to reassert influence in nuclear negotiations, especially after being sidelined by Iran–US talks.
The former diplomat said the 2015 nuclear deal, or JCPOA, was seen as a major diplomatic achievement for Europe. But with Washington and Tehran now pursuing indirect negotiations without EU mediation, European powers—particularly the E3 (France, Germany, UK)—feel marginalized and are exerting pressure to remain relevant.
Mehmanparast further alleged that IAEA chief Rafael Grossi’s actions may be politically motivated, potentially aimed at future career ambitions.
He warned that such pressures—whether through IAEA reports or Western diplomatic maneuvers—risk derailing nuclear talks. "If these politically motivated actions continue and obstacles are placed in the way of Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy, the talks will be negatively affected," he said.
