A veteran British spy allegedly infiltrated the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to help coordinate Western sanctions against Iran, according to leaked documents and sources. These revelations come amid heightened tensions between Iran and Western powers, with accusations of Iranian nuclear facilities being targeted by Israeli and U.S. strikes based on IAEA intelligence. The allegations suggest that intelligence agencies have been actively involved in covert operations against Iran’s nuclear program, raising serious questions about the IAEA’s neutrality and the geopolitical implications of such actions.
Nicholas Langman, a senior MI6 operative, is said to have been embedded within the IAEA for years, working to undermine Iran’s nuclear capabilities. His role, as detailed in leaked documents, involved building relationships with senior officials from the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East to implement a coordinated sanctions strategy targeting Iran. Langman’s tenure coincided with a surge in Western sanctions and covert operations against Iranian nuclear scientists, including Israeli assassinations and U.S. and EU economic penalties. These actions have escalated tensions between the West and Iran, with Tehran now accusing the IAEA of providing Israel with critical intelligence that led to the recent strikes on its nuclear facilities.
Iran has denied the allegations of pursuing nuclear weapons and accused the IAEA of conspiring with its adversaries. Tehran has suspended cooperation with the agency, barred IAEA chief Rafael Grossi from entering the country, and voted to end routine monitoring of its nuclear sites. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei has criticized Grossi’s report as ‘biased’ and claimed it was used by Israel to justify its ‘unlawful’ attack. Russia has also condemned the agency’s role, with its Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, calling the use of IAEA data to plan strikes a ‘colossal blow’ to the watchdog’s credibility.
The IAEA, a UN agency aimed at promoting peaceful nuclear energy use, has found itself at the center of a geopolitical storm. The recent strikes, including those by Israel on June 12 and U.S. involvement on June 22, have intensified the conflict. The 12-day war ended in a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, but tensions remain high. Iran’s actions signal a complete breakdown in trust with the IAEA, complicating global efforts to ensure nuclear non-proliferation and escalating the risk of further conflict in the region.