IAEA chief gets special protection, UN nuclear watchdog confirms

VIENNA

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that its chief, Rafael Grossi, has been receiving special police protection from Austria.

IAEA Director General Grossi is being guarded by an Austrian police Cobra unit, which is providing special protection due to a threat that the agency cannot confirm where it came from.

On Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Grossi has been receiving special protection for weeks. The report mentioned "a specific Iranian threat" as the reason for special protection.

Citing a person familiar with the matter, the report said the Austrian authorities acted on intelligence outlining a specific threat to Grossi "coming from Iran-linked individuals."

In response to Anadolu's question about the matter, Fredrik Dahl, a spokesperson for the UN agency, confirmed the special protection but added: "We cannot confirm where the specific threat came from."