Tehran unravels documents exposing secret IAEA-'Israel' collusion

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
12 Jun 2025 15:35
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Iranian intelligence files raise serious concerns about the IAEA’s impartiality, exposing years of behind-the-scenes coordination with “Israel” to undermine Tehran.

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The flag of the International Atomic Energy Agency flies in front of its headquarters during an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. (AP)

Iranian media outlets on Thursday published a series of documents that reveal covert coordination between IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi and "Israel", a collaboration Iranian officials say was designed to politicize the agency’s oversight of Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.

The documents were obtained by Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence in what was described as a high-level intelligence operation, sources revealed to Al Mayadeen.

According to reports by Fars News Agency, the documents expose a long-standing partnership between Grossi and Israeli officials, showing that the IAEA chief repeatedly acted in alignment with Israeli directives regarding Iran’s nuclear file.

Documents suggest Grossi coordinated directly with Israeli officials

The unveiled documents implicate Merav Zafary-Odiz, "Israel’s" permanent representative to the IAEA from 2014 to 2016, as playing a pivotal role in advancing Tel Aviv’s position within the agency. According to the documents, she regularly criticized Iran’s cooperation during Board of Governors meetings and accused the previous IAEA chief, Yukiya Amano, of disseminating “inaccurate” information about Iran’s nuclear progress.

Zafary-Odiz also maintained a direct line to Grossi, including an urgent meeting request dated May 10, 2016, to discuss shifting developments. Iranian media claim this correspondence is part of a broader pattern of coordinated narrative-setting that aligned IAEA priorities with Israeli talking points, while ignoring “Israel’s” own unmonitored nuclear arsenal.

#BREAKING | #Iranian state media has released the first batch of classified documents obtained through a major intelligence operation targeting "Israel". 1/3 pic.twitter.com/u3buFooHdX
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) June 12, 2025

The files include email exchanges, reportedly in Hebrew, between Zafary-Odiz and another Israeli figure, Elai Rettig, which have not yet been translated into Persian. These communications are said to further illustrate the extent of the collaboration.

Tehran: IAEA weaponized against Iran’s sovereign nuclear rights

According to Iranian sources, Grossi’s appointment as IAEA director marked a “turning point” in the agency’s posture toward Iran. “The documents confirm that Grossi’s cooperation with Israeli officials began in 2016 and involved coordinated efforts to shape narratives and reports about Iran,” Iranian media reported.

One document reportedly outlines a strategy to escalate pressure on Tehran just five months after the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed, revealing an early intent to derail the nuclear agreement.

The leaks also suggest that Zafary-Odiz was tasked with shaping international perception to divert attention from "Israel’s" nuclear program by intensifying scrutiny on Iran. These activities, Tehran claims, constitute a violation of the IAEA’s principle of neutrality and a broader effort to erode Iran’s legitimate nuclear rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Iran doubles down on accusations of IAEA bias

The release of the documents comes amid Iran’s escalating criticism of the IAEA’s recent resolution, backed by the US and the E3, which accused Tehran of violating its nuclear obligations.

Iranian officials have repeatedly argued that the agency has become a political tool manipulated by Western powers and “Israel”, rather than a neutral body committed to global non-proliferation.

As Iranian media circulate further details from the leak, Tehran is expected to use this development to challenge the IAEA’s credibility and defend its continued pursuit of peaceful nuclear technology.