US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has strongly condemned reported calls in Iran for the execution of Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). His remarks followed reports from Iranian media, including Kayhan, that accused Gross, of spying for Israel and suggested he be tried and executed if he entered the country. Rubio emphasized that such calls are unacceptable and condemned them on social media. He also expressed support for the IAEA’s verification and monitoring efforts and called on Iran to ensure the safety of its personnel.
The situation escalated after Iran’s parliament voted to suspend cooperation with the UN watchdog. Following the vote, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that Grossi would be barred from entering the country. This decision followed a statement by the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, who said the Iranian public is angry at the IAEA for failing to strongly condemn recent Israeli and US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Baghaei reiterated that Iran’s nuclear program remains peaceful and stated that there has been no weapons-grade enrichment of uranium.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel is expected to lead the party in Cuba’s next legislative elections, according to the party’s announcement, while also addressing climate-related challenges such as extreme heat and drought across the island. These challenges are being addressed through state-run infrastructure and community-led initiatives.