During the 12-day war, Israel struck Iranian military and nuclear sites, later joined by US airstrikes.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who led the Iranian delegation in the three rounds of negotiations held so far, said Iran was ready for a “fair and balanced deal.” PHOTO: AFP
Iran warned of further attacks on its country on Thursday, after the head of the UN nuclear watchdog said he feared a possible “renewal of the use of force” if diplomatic attempts with Tehran failed.
In mid-June, Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran, sparking a war in which Iran responded with missile and drone strikes.
During the 12-day war, Israel targeted Iranian military and nuclear sites as well as residential areas, with the United States later joining in strikes on key nuclear facilities.
Learn more: Iran accuses US of blocking talks N
The conflict derailed nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington which began in April. A ceasefire between Iran and Israel has been in effect since June 24.
In an interview published Wednesday by the Swiss newspaper Le Temps, the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, declared “if diplomacy fails, I fear a new use of force.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday it was unclear whether Grossi’s remarks were “a sign of concern or a threat.”
“But those who issue such threats must understand that repeating a failed experiment will only lead to further failure,” he added in a video released by the Foreign Ministry.
Tensions between Iran and the IAEA rose immediately after 12 days of war, with Tehran suspending cooperation with the agency over what it described as its failure to adequately condemn Israeli and US strikes.
Read also: The Iranian nuclear saga
In September, Iran and the IAEA agreed to a new cooperation framework, but weeks later Tehran deemed that framework invalid after Britain, France and Germany triggered the return of U.N. sanctions that had been lifted under a 2015 nuclear deal.
That deal was torpedoed in 2018 when the United States unilaterally withdrew from it during President Donald Trump’s first term.
During his interview, Grossi said Iran had since the war imposed “limits on inspections because it fears for its security” and only allowed inspectors “sparingly.”
According to the IAEA, Iran is the only non-nuclear weapons country to enrich its uranium to 60%, close to the 90% threshold required to make a bomb.
“If it were to take the next steps, Iran would have enough material to make around 10 nuclear bombs,” Grossi said.
“However, we have no evidence that Tehran was seeking nuclear weapons.”
