The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has warned of the growing nuclear threat and the possibility that the number of nuclear-armed states will increase significantly in the future.
“Without wanting to spread panic, the risk of a nuclear conflict is greater today than in the past,” Grossi said in an interview with the Italian daily La Repubblica. He suggested that at some point, 20 to 25 states could acquire nuclear weapons, although he did not mention a timeframe for this development.
Currently, according to experts, there are only nine states in the world that possess nuclear weapons. However, according to Grossi, the process of disarmament or controlled reduction of nuclear arsenals has remained blocked.
“Those states that possess nuclear weapons are producing more of them, including China,” he added, underlining that the situation is becoming increasingly worrying. The IAEA chief also warned of the growing rhetoric on the use of tactical nuclear weapons, which he described as a highly alarming development for global security.
