Collected photo of Bundestag, Germany

FRANKFURT, Germany, June  29, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Berlin urged Iran on Sunday 
to stop making "threats" against the UN's nuclear watchdog after Tehran 
rejected its request to visit nuclear facilities bombed by Israel and the 
United States.

Tehran has accused Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy 
Agency, of "betrayal of his duties" for not condemning the Israeli and US 
strikes on Iran's nuclear sites, and Iranian lawmakers this week voted to 
suspend cooperation with the agency.

"I commend director general Rafael Grossi and his team for their efforts 
and their unrelenting professionalism. Threats against them from within Iran 
are deeply troubling and must stop," German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul 
said on X, without specifying further.

"I call on the Iranian authorities to fully cooperate with the IAEA and to 
ensure the safety of its personnel," he added.

 On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X that "Grossi's 
insistence on visiting the bombed sites under the pretext of safeguards is 
meaningless and possibly even malign in intent". 

Iran has said it believes an IAEA resolution on June 12 that accused Iran 
of ignoring its nuclear obligations served as an "excuse" for the war Israel 
launched on June 13.

 Wadephul had already urged Iran on Thursday to keep working with the IAEA, 
calling the vote by Iranian lawmakers to halt cooperation with the agency "a 
totally wrong signal".