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Iran holds IAEA accountable for Israel’s atomic threats: Nuclear chief

Wednesday, 29 November 2023 10:41 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 29 November 2023 10:41 AM ]

Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), speaks to reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting in Tehran, on November 29, 2023. (Photo by president.ir)

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) says the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) bears responsibility for any nuclear accident caused by Israel amid the regime’s repeated threats to use atomic bombs.

Speaking on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting in Tehran on Wednesday, Mohammad Eslami said that he had raised the issue of nuclear threats made by Israeli officials with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi before a meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog's Board of Governors.

“We told the IAEA chief that … it is a violation of international law if you do not take a position against a party that has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), is not committed to the Safeguards Agreement, does not allow the agency’s access to [its nuclear facilities], and clearly declares that it will use nuclear weapons,” he added.

“The responsibility for any [nuclear] accident lies with the IAEA, because the Zionist regime has not signed the NPT and the Safeguards Agreement, and today the regime is threatening the world with atomic bombs.”

Earlier this month, Israel’s so-called heritage minister Amichai Eliyahu said that dropping a nuclear weapon on Gaza was “one of the possibilities” in the ongoing war on the besieged Palestinian territory.

Israeli minister says nuking Gaza is a possibility

An Israeli minister has claimed that dropping a nuclear bomb on the blockaded Gaza Strip is an option.

Back in September, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for a “credible nuclear threat” against Iran in an address to the 78th session of the UN General Assembly. However, the hawkish premier’s office later said that he misread the line and meant to say a “credible military threat.”

Israel, which pursues a policy of deliberate ambiguity about its nuclear weapons, is estimated to have 200 to 400 nuclear warheads in its arsenal, making it the Middle East's sole possessor of non-conventional arms.

The usurping entity has, however, refused to either allow inspections of its military nuclear facilities or sign the NPT, an international treaty aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear arms.

Also in his remarks, Eslami said that the bloody Israeli war on Gaza has exposed the nature of the Israeli regime.

He expressed hope for a day, when international organizations will be effective and ensure international peace and security.

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