The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) convened an emergency meeting Monday amid escalating fears over Iran’s nuclear program following U.S. airstrikes, with Director-General Rafael Grossi warning that the global non-proliferation framework could collapse if diplomacy fails.

Grossi Issues Grave Warning at U.N. Security Council

Speaking at a rare emergency session of the U.N. Security Council on Sunday, Grossi stressed the urgency of halting violence to allow inspectors back into Iranian nuclear sites. “If diplomacy fails,” he said, “violence and destruction could reach unthinkable levels and the global non-proliferation regime as we know it could crumble and fall.”

Grossi emphasized that IAEA inspectors remain in Iran but have been unable to conduct essential verification work due to unsafe conditions at key sites, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

Ceasefire Urged for Nuclear Oversight

“The inspectors are in Iran, and they must do their job,” Grossi added, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities. “This will require a cessation of hostilities so that Iran can let the teams into the sites under the necessary safety and security conditions.”

With several nuclear sites damaged or inaccessible following U.S. and Israeli strikes, the IAEA has not been able to confirm the status or location of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile—a development Grossi described as “deeply concerning.”

Non-Proliferation Treaty at Stake

Diplomats warn that continued obstruction of inspections and escalating military action could fracture the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), a cornerstone of global nuclear governance since 1970. Iran has previously threatened to withdraw from the NPT, and international monitoring has already been severely restricted since the outbreak of conflict.