Iran has banned the head of the United Nations‘ nuclear watchdog organization from its nuclear sites and is removing surveillance cameras from them, according to multiple reports.
On Saturday, Iranian Parliament vice speaker Hamid Reza Haji Babaei announced the barring of Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, from the regime’s nuclear sites as well as the removal of the surveillance measures, moves that threaten to keep Iran‘s nuclear footprint even more in the dark following U.S. and Israeli attacks designed to dismantle their nuclear program.
Iran claimed the moves, which are the regime’s latest following a ceasefire in its “12 Day War” with Israel, were made after Israel acquired “sensitive facility data.”
The new measures from Iran were announced during a mass funeral held in Tehran over the weekend for high-level Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists killed in targeted Israeli strikes earlier this month when it began its military campaign dubbed “Operation Rising Lion.”
Thousands of the regime’s supporters gathered in the capital for the funeral on Saturday, where Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and two top officials thought to be dead after earlier Israeli strikes — specifically, Quds Force Cmdr. Esmail Qaani and Ali Shamkhani, a close aide to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei — were also present.
Footage posted by Araghchi show Iranians packed onto a main street, chanting and waving Iranian flags.
Pezeshkian and Araghchi issued statements shortly after the event, with both suggesting Iran will not back down following the strikes from Israel that decimated the top brass of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as well as later U.S. bombings that the Trump administration has insisted “obliterated” three nuclear sites.
“The Wave after Wave of Patriots who took to the streets in Iran to honor military commanders, scientists, researchers and civilians including women and children murdered in cold blood by the Cowardly Israeli regime, all have one message: Unlike the Feeble Israeli regime, we do NOT hide our losses; we are PROUD of our MARTYRS, who are our role models. For every fallen officer or scientist, Rest Assured 100 More Are Lining Up To Take Their Places. Until the Last Drop of Blood, the Powerful and Resilient Iranian Nation will Resist whoever attempts to decide OUR destiny,” Araghchi posted on X.
CENTRIFUGES AT IRAN’S FORDOW ‘NO LONGER OPERATIONAL,’ GROSSI SAYS
The United States responded to separate threats against Grossi from Iranian officials on Saturday, specifically alleged calls for the IAEA head’s arrest and execution. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called those threats “unacceptable” in a statement posted on X.
“Calls in Iran for the arrest and execution of IAEA Director General Grossi are unacceptable and should be condemned. We support the lAEA’s critical verification and monitoring efforts in Iran and commend the Director General and the lAEA for their dedication and professionalism. We call on Iran to provide for the safety and security of IAEA personnel,” Rubio said.