Atomic Energy Agency Boss: Nuclear Weapons Increase Compared To Distribution

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi/PHOTO IAEA Imagebank via Wikimedia Commons

JAKARTA - Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi, when meeting with Pope Leo XIV warned of a tendency to consider increasing nuclear weapons compared to its dismantling efforts.

'I think what we see in general is an increase in nuclear weapons, instead of weapons stripping. So, many countries are improving and improving their nuclear arsenal," Grossi told Vatican News after meeting the Pope.

He said countries that do not have nuclear weapons began to speak more openly about the possibility of having such a type of weaponry.

"What we see is that many countries, including key countries in the West or parts of the wider West, as well as in Asia, are starting to think that looking at the current situation, perhaps ultimately having nuclear weapons is something that is necessary and this is what we must prevent," Grossi stressed.

He reiterated the need to stop this trend of increasing nuclear weapons, and considered it "very important."

Grossi also warned that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine is still at risk of being hit by attacks amid ongoing conflict.

"If we look at the map, we can see that this PLTN is right at the forefront. So, the possibility of something happening is very high," said the head of the IAEA.