ANKARA/TEHRAN, Iran

The Iranian state-affiliated newspaper the Tehran Times accused International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi on Thursday of delivering “misleading information and reports” about Iran’s nuclear program to the US.

Citing unnamed sources, the newspaper said that Grossi acted under pressure from the UK, France and Germany and contributed to the postponement of upcoming Iran-US nuclear negotiations.

“By presenting misleading reports to the US, Grossi aims to create a false impression about the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear activities,” the report said, adding that he appears to be “trying every means to insert himself into the negotiation process.”

The fourth round of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington, originally scheduled for May 3 in Rome, was postponed for logistical reasons, according to Oman’s foreign minister, who is mediating the talks.

Following an exchange of letters in March between US President Donald Trump and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the two sides held indirect talks in Oman and Rome.

While both the US and Iran said progress had been made, recent US sanctions on seven companies involved in Iranian oil trade, including four based in the United Arab Emirates and one in Türkiye, have added to tensions.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also issued a warning to Iran on social media, accusing it of “lethal support” to Yemen’s Houthis and threatening retaliation.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baqai condemned the US for making “contradictory and provocative statements” while negotiations were ongoing.