IAEA Chief Seeks More Oversight of Iran Nuclear Program

• Rafael Grossi, the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), traveled to Iran on Monday in a bid to strengthen the agency's presence overseeing the country's nuclear program. Reuters.com
• After meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, Grossi posted on X that he proposed "a set of concrete practical measures for the revitalization" of an inspections plan agreed upon with Iran last year. Associated Press (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• The meeting was held in Iran's Isfahan province, the location of the country's Natanz uranium enrichment plant and the location allegedly hit by Israeli strikes last month. However, both Iran and the IAEA said no damage was done to the facility. hindustantimes.com
• Last month, Grossi said the "depth and breadth" of Iran's nuclear program required "additional monitoring." If Tehran further enriches its now 60% enriched uranium — 90% purity being weapons-grade — it could produce two nuclear bombs, the agency said. Reuters.com
• Tehran's nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, said that 130 IAEA inspectors are monitoring the country's nuclear facilities. However, it decertified several inspectors last September, citing "political abuses" by the US, France, Germany, and the UK. hindustantimes.com
• Iran-IAEA tensions have risen since former US Pres. Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal. Despite Tehran lifting all of the deal's restrictions as a result, it is not engaged in producing a "testable nuclear device," US intelligence said. Associated Press (LR: 3 CP: 5)

Anti-Iran narrative:

• Despite every US president in recent decades declaring it unacceptable for Iran to possess a nuclear bomb, Washington and the UN have recently turned a blind eye to how close Tehran is to developing nuclear weapons. While Iran has exaggerated its nuclear capabilities in the past, it now appears that no technological obstacle remains between Iran and a nuclear bomb. Given Tehran's recent regional aggression amid the Gaza war, this is a huge threat that demands decisive leadership.
  IRAN INTERNATIONAL

Pro-Iran narrative:

• Despite corrupt international media making claims to the contrary, Iran continues to be in lockstep with the IAEA's wishes, as it pursues its goal of 20K megawatts of nuclear power by 2040. As Tehran works to produce a new energy source for its country, others are trying to paint it as an evil government hellbent on obtaining nuclear bombs. These smear tactics are putting the world at risk and should stop immediately.
  GUARDIAN (LR: 2 CP: 5)

Nerd narrative:

• There is a 51% chance that Iran will possess a nuclear weapon before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)