New IAEA Chief: Setting Deadlines on Iran ‘Might Not Be the Best Idea’

Says parties should work together, avoid 'antagonistic relationship'


Assuming the post of director general of the IAEA on Tuesday, Rafael Grossi said the body would give Iran time to explain traces of unenriched uranium found in the country, saying time may be of the essence, but arbitrary deadlines “might not be the best idea.”

The IAEA has been trying to get clarification on the traces of uranium, which despite the US hyping them as a huge concern, are a minor number of particles of processed but not enriched uranium, not a serious proliferation risk.

Grossi seemed to be trying to set the stage for his leadership of the IAEA with his comments, saying he wants to avoid an “antagonistic relationship” and that it would be easier to sort this out working together with Iran.

That’s probably not going to sit well with the US, which very much wants the IAEA to be more hostile toward Iran, but Grossi says that he thinks it wouldn’t be appropriate to start making proclamations before his first meeting with Iran.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.