SAEDNEWS: A controversial statement by IAEA Director Rafael Grossi alleging Iran concealed highly enriched uranium at ancient historical sites in Isfahan has drawn sharp condemnation from former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who denounced the claim as “another fabricated crime scene.”
SAEDNEWS: A controversial statement by IAEA Director Rafael Grossi alleging Iran concealed highly enriched uranium at ancient historical sites in Isfahan has drawn sharp condemnation from former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who denounced the claim as “another fabricated crime scene.”
According to Saed News, Fox News recently quoted Rafael Grossi as saying that roughly 900 pounds of potentially enriched uranium had been taken to an "ancient site near Isfahan." During an interview with Fox anchor Martha MacCallum, Grossi was asked to clarify the allegation. He responded: “We have to be very precise… We are the IAEA, so we are not speculating here,” while also acknowledging that the agency lacks definitive information on the material’s current location.
This prompted a swift and forceful reaction from Zarif, who posted on social media:
“After Grossi took part in an unfounded report that aided the massacre of innocents, he now resorts to outrageous fantasies about uranium hidden in high-enrichment form at heritage sites in Isfahan. This is yet another manufactured crime scene. The Agency must rid itself of this disgrace.”
The claim that Iran might be hiding enriched uranium at UNESCO-listed or historically significant sites has stirred skepticism not only in Tehran but among international observers familiar with the region’s longstanding tensions with the IAEA. The hashtag #Fire_Grossi quickly trended among Iranian social media users, underscoring growing frustration over what are viewed as politically motivated accusations.
Grossi’s remarks come amid renewed scrutiny of Iran’s nuclear program and heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, particularly following recent military escalations involving Israel and the United States.
While the IAEA insists on maintaining impartial oversight of global nuclear activity, Iran argues that the agency is increasingly being manipulated by Western powers to advance political narratives rather than technical facts.
The claim, linking enriched uranium to sites near Isfahan — one of Iran’s most culturally significant cities — adds a controversial new layer to an already tense diplomatic climate.
