Egypt Daily News – Iran has raised serious accusations against the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), claiming that suspicious surveillance chips were found hidden in the shoes of the agency’s inspectors during visits to the country’s nuclear facilities. The claim comes amid mounting tensions following a 12-day period of military escalation involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.
In an interview with Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, Mahmoud Nabavian, deputy chairman of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, revealed what he described as a “surprising discovery” made by Iranian intelligence authorities. “Spy devices were discovered embedded in the footwear of IAEA inspectors. This raises serious concerns about the impartiality and true intent of their inspections,” Nabavian said.
He went on to criticize IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, accusing him of relying on intelligence allegedly provided by Israel. “You claim there are unresolved questions about three of our nuclear sites—are these concerns really based on your findings, or are they simply Israeli intelligence? Israel is not even a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, so why are you acting on their information?” Nabavian asked.
In a more dramatic revelation, Nabavian claimed that Iranian intelligence services had retrieved “ten million documents from Israel,” implying that Tehran had managed to obtain sensitive materials about Israeli surveillance efforts. He alleged that confidential reports submitted by Iran to the IAEA were leaked and ended up in the hands of Israeli and American media outlets, calling it a clear breach of the agency’s confidentiality obligations.
The situation escalated further when Mojtaba Zonnour and Ismail Kothari, both prominent members of parliament and former IRGC officers, echoed similar sentiments. Kothari accused Grossi of handing over classified Iranian nuclear information to both the U.S. and Israel. “Grossi’s actions have been unprofessional and a betrayal of trust,” he stated. “As a result, parliament is now seriously considering halting all cooperation with the IAEA.”
The Iranian parliament has already passed preliminary legislation mandating the suspension of cooperation with the agency unless safeguards for Iran’s nuclear facilities are guaranteed. According to parliamentary sources, the bill includes provisions for penalizing domestic entities that facilitate the entry of IAEA staff without strict oversight.
Ebrahim Rezai, the spokesperson for the National Security Committee, confirmed that the committee has approved the bill’s key details. “Iran must respond decisively to any hostile acts by Israel,” he said. Rezai further called for legal proceedings against IAEA officials over what he labeled “false reporting and espionage.”
These developments come in the wake of a sharp escalation in military hostilities. On June 13, Israel launched an airstrike that reportedly killed several Iranian nuclear scientists and senior military commanders. Less than ten days later, on June 22, the United States conducted strikes on three key Iranian nuclear sites Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan with former U.S. President Donald Trump declaring that the aim was to limit Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Iran’s nuclear infrastructure has also reportedly come under cyber and missile attacks, which Tehran attributes to Israel. In response, the Iranian government has signaled a strategic shift toward reducing transparency and tightening access to its nuclear program, potentially derailing ongoing efforts to restore diplomatic engagement with Western powers.
As the IAEA faces increasing scrutiny from Tehran, the future of its inspections and Iran’s compliance with international nuclear obligations hangs in the balance. The accusations if substantiated could further undermine trust in the agency and deepen the rift between Iran and the West at a time when regional stability is already under severe strain.
