Media Home
UN Web TV
UN Audiovisual Library
UN PhotoIAEA / GROSSI BOARD OF GOVERNORS PRESSER
Download
There is no media available to download.
Share
STORY: IAEA / GROSSI BOARD OF GOVERNORS PRESSER
TRT: 4:02
SOURCE: IAEA
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 08 JUNE 2026, VIENNA, AUSTRIA
1. Wide shot, conference room
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA):
“As you know, you remember, I announced on Friday that we had reached an agreement on a cease fire. That ceasefire was compromised immediately on Friday. Russia announced to us that there had been an incident there, which put the whole thing in, I would say, in parentheses. And we didn't know whether we would be able to continue our important work there.”
3. Wide shot, conference room
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA):
“In this case, since the mining part had been compromised, our experts were required also to look, observe, monitor, in a certain sense, guarantee this part of the operation. This required very delicate negotiations with both. And I must say that it happened yesterday or it started yesterday. It's going to be lasting according to what the Director of the plant and the people there tell us, it's going to last for quite a few days, maybe ten days, maybe until we can start the whole process. But I wanted to highlight this to indicate how essential the presence of the agency is to ensure that we keep the minimum requirements there so that this crucial work for nuclear safety can be assured.”
5. Wide shot, conference room
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA):
“There were impacts, as you know, also at Chernobyl yesterday. We are looking into that. We are attaching to all of these. And there have been also some important events at Zaporizhzhia and Enerhodar. So we are seeing a lot of activities. And I use an euphemism, activity, military activities. These are attacks, use of drones, all sorts of things that are happening. So these are very difficult times for nuclear safety in general.”
7. Wide shot, conference room
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA):
“No matter where nuclear facilities are, attacking nuclear power plants, in particular, is a taboo. It's a no go. It's something that should never happen. Whether it's Buchare, Barakah Kursk, Zaporizhzhia, this cannot continue. We are playing with fire. We have been saying this for a long time.”
9. Wide shot, conference room
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA):
“I want to say that we've had good news, thanks to the joint work of the government of Venezuela, the government of the United Kingdom, and the United States. With the Agency, we have been able to remove an amount of highly enriched uranium that was still in Venezuela.”
11. Wide shot, conference room
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA):
“The outstanding balance of assessed contributions, the gap we have is more than 250 million euros. So this is our situation now. I want to thank countries that are making a special effort and paying their dues. But the reality contrasts this with what I have been saying about the work of the Agency is that I will not be able to pay salaries in August.”
13. Wide shot, conference room
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Mariano Grossi said the latest IAEA-brokered ceasefire between the Russian Federation and Ukraine was “compromised.” He reiterated that attacking nuclear power plants is a “no go” adding “we are playing with fire.”
The Director General spoke to the Board of Governors today (8 Jun) in Vienna. He said that on Friday (5 Jun), the Agency was able to agree the sixth local cease fire between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, brokered by the IAEA, to allow experts and technicians from both sides to repair that crucial Dniprovska line. That same day, the IAEA was informed of a serious incident in which some Russian military personnel were injured during the demining phase that has to take place before repairs can begin.
Grossi said, “since the mining part had been compromised, our experts were required also to look, observe, monitor, in a certain sense, guarantee this part of the operation. This required very delicate negotiations with both.”
The IAEA chief also noted that there were impacts at Chernobyl on Sunday (7 Jun), and “some important events at Zaporizhzhia and Enerhodar.”
He said, “we are seeing a lot of activities. And I use an euphemism, activity, military activities. These are attacks, use of drones, all sorts of things that are happening. So these are very difficult times for nuclear safety in general.”
Grossi reiterated, “no matter where nuclear facilities are, attacking nuclear power plants, in particular, is a taboo. It's a no go. It's something that should never happen.”
“Whether it's Buchare, Barakah Kursk, Zaporizhzhia, this cannot continue. We are playing with fire. We have been saying this for a long time,” he emphasized.
On Venezuela, the IAEA chief thanked the joint work of the government of Venezuela, the government of the United Kingdom, and the United States.
“With the Agency, we have been able to remove an amount of highly enriched uranium that was still in Venezuela,” he said.
On funding issues at the Agency, the Director General said, “the outstanding balance of assessed contributions, the gap we have is more than 250 million euros. So this is our situation now. I want to thank countries that are making a special effort and paying their dues. But the reality contrasts this with what I have been saying about the work of the Agency is that I will not be able to pay salaries in August.”
