The Iranian regime has officially barred International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi from entering the country, while also banning surveillance cameras from all nuclear facilities, according to state-controlled media.
Mehr News reported that Iranian Vice Speaker Hamid Reza Haji Babaei cited “the discovery of sensitive facility data within documents obtained from the Israeli regime” as justification for the move. The decision signals a total shutdown of international oversight amid heightened tensions following recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
Escalating even further, Iran’s state-aligned Kayhan newspaper, which is under the supervision of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, openly called for Grossi’s arrest and execution if he enters the country—accusing him of espionage for Mossad and involvement in “the killing of the oppressed people of our country.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio swiftly condemned the threats and Iran’s move to block nuclear monitoring.
“Calls in Iran for the arrest and execution of IAEA Director General Grossi are unacceptable and should be condemned,” Rubio said. “We support the IAEA’s critical verification and monitoring efforts in Iran and commend Director General Grossi and the agency for their dedication and professionalism.”
Rubio reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to ensuring the safety and independence of international nuclear inspectors.
Grossi himself had warned Friday of the danger posed by Iran’s opaque nuclear activity. “They can have, you know, in a matter of months, a few cascades of centrifuges spinning and producing enriched uranium,” Grossi said. “We don’t know where this material could be. Some could have been destroyed as part of the attack, but some could have been moved.”
The IAEA chief stressed the need for access to verify what exists and what may have been relocated or concealed.
The ban on Grossi and IAEA surveillance marks a new phase in Iran’s defiance, as the regime continues to lash out after President Trump’s recent strikes crippled core components of its nuclear program.