IAEA chief warns of proliferation if Iran obtains nuclear weapon

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, warned on Monday of a wave of nuclear proliferation if Iran builds a nuclear weapon.

“Many countries have said that if Iran gets a nuclear weapon, they will do the same. I think we heard that very clearly from many countries,” Grossi said on the sidelines of an IAEA conference in Vienna.

“We have to avoid further erosion of the non-proliferation regime. This is very important, and I think my Iranian counterparts know this. I think adding nuclear weapons to the Middle East cauldron is a very bad idea.” he said.

Grossi called for cooperation with Iran to try to avoid this. He called on Iran to show greater transparency in its nuclear program and noted that Saudi Arabia has indicated it would respond accordingly to an Iranian nuclear weapon.

Although official Iranian policy does not provide for the acquisition of a nuclear weapon, several representatives have recently expressed concerns with comments about a possible change in this doctrine and about Iran’s capabilities with regard to building a nuclear weapon.

Grossi has repeatedly noted that Iran is enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels.

Germany, France and the United Kingdom worked to draft a possible resolution to be presented at the IAEA board of governors meeting this week that would react to Tehran’s lack of cooperation with IAEA inspectors.

Iran has denied access to experienced inspectors and does not provide information about previously secret nuclear plants where traces of nuclear material have been found.