UN nuclear chief says Iran deal 'nonexistent,' calls for new arrangement: Video
Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has described the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran's nuclear programme as an "empty shell".
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, November 12, the official emphasised the need to draw up a new plan with Iran.
"It's true that the... I'd say the scenery has changed a lot. The old consensus around the agreement, the famous JCPOA has disappeared. It no longer exists. It's an empty shell. So we need to see whether we are moving towards a new type of agreement or unilaterally, what type of arrangement and dynamic we could set in motion or help to set in motion," he said
The JCPOA, established in 2015, was a landmark agreement aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear capabilities in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.
The deal was negotiated by Iran and the P5+1 group, which includes the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and Germany, along with the European Union.
However, the deal has faced significant challenges, particularly after the United States' withdrawal in 2018 under Donald Trump.
Since the U.S. exit, Iran has progressively reduced its compliance with the deal's terms, leading to an increase in its enriched uranium stockpile far beyond the limits set by the JCPOA.
The IAEA has reported difficulties in verifying Iran's nuclear activities, further complicating the situation.
