Iranian Nuclear: Grossi Warns of Closing Tehran Diplomatic Window with Washington

19 February 2026, 9:06 AM

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رفاييل غروسي يحذّر واشنطن من ضيق الوقت حول النووي الإيراني - Rafael Grossi Warns Washington of Limited Time on Iranian Nuclear Issue — Cancillería Argentina, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Iranian Nuclear: Grossi Warns of Limited Time as Moscow Emphasizes Diplomacy

The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, stated that Iran’s diplomatic window to reach a nuclear deal with Washington is gradually closing, warning of the limited time available for negotiations.

Grossi told Bloomberg that the U.S. military buildup in the Middle East is increasing tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program. He also noted discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on concrete proposals for inspecting nuclear sites affected by previous attacks, despite the complexities in the Geneva talks.

Grossi: U.S. Military Buildup Increases Complications for Iranian Nuclear Deal — IAEA Imagebank, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Moscow: Diplomacy as a Priority

Meanwhile, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed Moscow’s hope that political and diplomatic means will be prioritized in addressing the situation around Iran, emphasizing continued reliance on dialogue and negotiations to find solutions to the crisis.

These warnings come as The New York Times reported that Washington has redeployed dozens of refueling aircraft, over 50 fighter jets, and two aircraft carrier strike groups, accompanied by destroyers, cruisers, and submarines, to the Middle East in anticipation of potential military escalation.

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