Iran Seeks Emergency IAEA Meeting After US-Israeli Strikes, Accuses West of ‘Baseless Claims’

Iran has called for an emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s board of governors to address what it describes as “baseless” accusations by the United States and Israel regarding its nuclear programme, following coordinated military strikes on Iranian targets.

In a statement posted on X on Saturday, Iran’s mission to the Vienna-based agency confirmed it had requested an urgent extraordinary session, with a formal letter addressed to IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi.

“Baseless claims, vicious threats and wrongful acts of aggressors against Iran’s peaceful nuclear program shall be addressed by the Board immediately,” the mission stated.

The request comes after the United States and Israel launched waves of strikes on Saturday against targets in Iranian cities, triggering explosions and columns of smoke in the capital, Tehran. US President Donald Trump said Washington’s objective was “eliminating imminent threats” from Iran, while Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the action as a “preventive strike.”

In a video message posted on his social media platform, Trump declared, “The United States’ military began major combat operations in Iran.” He added, “We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally, again, obliterated. We’re going to annihilate their navy.”

Grossi’s Recent Engagement

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi had participated in US-Iranian talks on February 17 and 26, sessions that observers viewed as potential last opportunities to avoid military confrontation. The nuclear watchdog stressed on Friday the “utmost urgency” of its request to verify all nuclear material in Iran, according to a confidential report seen by AFP.

Western countries, led by the United States and Israel Iran’s arch-enemy and the only nuclear-armed power in the Middle East according to experts—accuse Tehran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Iran denies these allegations, maintaining that its nuclear activities are intended solely for civilian purposes.

US Reports Minimal Damage

Meanwhile, the Pentagon reported on Saturday that Iran’s retaliation to the initial strikes caused no American casualties, with damage to US installations described as “minimal” despite a barrage of Iranian air assaults.

In a statement, the US Central Command, which launched operations at Trump’s direction, said, “CENTCOM forces successfully defended against hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks.” The command added, “There have been no reports of US casualties or combat-related injuries. Damage to US installations was minimal and has not impacted operations.”

The developments mark a significant escalation in tensions between Iran and the US-Israeli alliance, with diplomatic channels now being pursued alongside military actions.