In a dramatic escalation of tensions between Tehran and international nuclear watchdog authorities, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has strongly condemned reported calls in Iranian state-affiliated media for the arrest and execution of Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The condemnation comes in the wake of Iran’s hardening stance toward international inspections and growing hostilities triggered by recent attacks on its nuclear infrastructure.

Rubio, who took over as Secretary of State earlier this year, made the statement on June 29 through a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). “Calls in Iran for the arrest and execution of IAEA Director General Grossi are unacceptable and should be condemned,” Rubio wrote. “We support the IAEA’s critical verification and monitoring efforts in Iran and commend the Director General and the IAEA for their dedication and professionalism. We call on Iran to ensure the safety and security of IAEA personnel.”

The controversy stems from an incendiary editorial published by Kayhan, a hardline Iranian newspaper widely regarded as close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The editorial accused Grossi of acting as a spy for Israel and insinuated that he should be arrested and tried as a traitor if he ever set foot in Iran again. It further suggested that capital punishment would be appropriate given the alleged betrayal of Iranian sovereignty.

While the Iranian government has not officially endorsed the Kayhan editorial, the........

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