Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has stated that Iran’s nuclear program is fundamentally different today from what it was when the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Grossi said that any future agreement involving Iran’s nuclear activities would effectively be a “post-war agreement” and would need to be designed according to current realities rather than past conditions.
He explained that although Iranian nuclear facilities have suffered physical damage during recent conflicts, the country’s technological capabilities and nuclear expertise have advanced significantly over the past decade.
According to Grossi, when the JCPOA was negotiated, Iran relied primarily on older generations of centrifuges. Today, however, the country possesses more advanced technologies and faster centrifuge models capable of producing greater enrichment capacity with fewer machines.
The IAEA chief emphasized that the original nuclear agreement was a product of its specific historical context and cannot simply be replicated under present circumstances.
“Whatever the JCPOA was, it belonged to that period. Now we need a different agreement that reflects the new realities,” Grossi said.
His comments come as diplomatic contacts concerning Iran’s nuclear program and regional security continue to attract international attention.
Iranian officials have recently stated that their immediate priority in discussions with the United States is ending hostilities and reducing tensions rather than engaging in traditional nuclear negotiations.
In recent months, the future of Iran’s nuclear program and the possibility of a revised agreement have once again become central topics in diplomatic discussions between Tehran and world powers.
Analysts say any future arrangement will likely require new technical, political and verification mechanisms to address developments that have occurred since the original agreement was reached nearly a decade ago.
