Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), noted that parts of Iran's infrastructure remained intact following the attacks, adding, “the reconstruction of the infrastructure is not impossible.” Speaking after talks with senior Austrian officials on Wednesday, Grossi said, “This is work that Iran knows how to do. It would take some time."
He emphasized the need to “re-engage” with Iran swiftly to enable inspectors to resume monitoring its nuclear sites, warning that “we cannot afford that, because of this, the inspection regime is interrupted.”
Grossi did not respond to Iran’s recent criticism of the IAEA.
When asked whether Iran might withdraw from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), Grossi said such a move would be “very regrettable.”
He acknowledged that “hard words and emotions are of course, perhaps … if not normal, inevitable at times of war,” but stressed that “we are working for diplomacy. We are working for a solution that (is) really sustainable.”