ISTANBUL

Iran accused the UN nuclear watchdog chief on Friday of “betraying his duties,” saying his insistence on visiting bombed nuclear sites was “malign in intent.”

“The IAEA and its Director-General (Rafael Grossi) are fully responsible for this sordid state of affairs,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement on his X account.

“Grossi’s insistence on visiting the bombed sites under the pretext of safeguards is meaningless and possibly even malign in intent. Iran reserves the right to take any steps in defense of its interests, its people, and its sovereignty.”

A 12‑day conflict between Israel and Iran erupted on June 13 after Tel Aviv launched airstrikes on Iranian military, nuclear, and civilian sites, killing at least 606 people and injuring 5,332, according to Iran’s Health Ministry.

The US, Israel’s major ally, also bombed three Iranian nuclear sites in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan on June 22, in an escalation of the conflict.

Tehran launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes on Israel, killing at least 29 people and wounding more than 3,400, according to figures released by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The conflict came to a halt under a US-sponsored ceasefire that took effect on June 24.

In response to the Israeli-US attacks, the Iranian parliament passed a bill on Wednesday to suspend cooperation with the IAEA until the safety and security of nuclear activities can be guaranteed.

“This is a direct result of Grossi’s regrettable role in obfuscating the fact that the Agency – a full decade ago – already closed all past issues,” Araghchi said.

“Through this malign action, he directly facilitated the adoption of a politically-motivated resolution against Iran by the IAEA BoG as well as the unlawful Israeli and US bombings of Iranian nuclear sites. In an astounding betrayal of his duties.”

On June 12, the IAEA's 35-nation Board of Governors adopted a resolution declaring Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in nearly two decades.