IAEA Director Warns of New Nuclear Arms Race

April 22—Speaking to the British newspaper The Telegraph, [IAEA Director Rafael Grossi warned] (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/20/world-faces-new-nuclear-arms-race-head-of-un-atomic-agency/) of the danger of a new nuclear arms race. The rising conflict and instability in the world, he said, could lead to a “crack in the system” of non-proliferation and a domino effect in which as many as 20 states pursue a bomb. He pointed to the growing discussion in Poland, South Korea, and Japan about the possibility of obtaining nuclear weapons as an example of the disconcerting situation.

He also expressed concern that countries which have signed on to the NPT were considering breaching that pact. “There’s been a few important countries … in Europe, in Asia Minor, in the Far East that have mentioned [it] and where a public discussion is taking place about this possibility.”

He said that his greatest fear was a nuclear arms race. “At some point, we are going to see a crack in the system. And then we’ll have a domino [effect]. It is a very, very fragile position.”

He said: “It’s not the case right now. But I think it’s fair enough that we highlight the need to reinforce and recommit to non-proliferation beacons if you want stability in a world that I think is in need of those.”

Grossi also felt that it was not possible to get an agreement between the U.S. and Iran on the nuclear issue without the IAEA. He said that “without verification, no agreement is agreement. It’s an illusion of an agreement, or it’s a promise, which you don’t know whether it will be complied with or not.” Sources report that an IAEA inspection regime will be part of any deal between the U.S. and Iran.

He said the IAEA would be able to “confirm and certify that what they agree is in reality what is happening.” “We know Iran very, very well, all the facilities,” he said. “We are the only ones who could guarantee absolute impartiality in the work. Then if the parties agree to do something else, well, it’s their freedom to do that. But I doubt it very much.”