Berlin, 29 June 2025 (dpa/MIA) – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has termed "unacceptable" a call by an Iranian newspaper for the death penalty to be imposed on International Atomic Energy Agency head Rafael Grossi.

"Calls in Iran for the arrest and execution of IAEA Director General Grossi are unacceptable and should be condemned. We support the IAEA's critical verification and monitoring efforts in Iran," Rubio posted on X late on Saturday.

He commended Grossi and the IAEA for their dedication and professionalism and called on Iran to provide for the safety and security of IAEA personnel.

The Tehran-based Kayhan daily had accused Grossi of spying for Israel. The newspaper is seen in Iran as a government propaganda outlet, with editor-in-chief Hossein Shariatmadari described as a radical Islamist.

The Iranian authorities see a recent IAEA report as one of the causes of the air attacks by Israel and the United States that targeted Tehran's nuclear programme and military in a 12-day war earlier this month.

The Vienna-based IAEA recently noted in a formal resolution that Tehran violated commitments to open up its entire nuclear programme to IAEA inspection. The resolution came after Tehran's refusal to explain past nuclear activities conducted in secrecy.

According to the IAEA, Iran has more than 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, a few steps short of the 90% needed for a nuclear weapon and well in excess of that needed for civilian purposes.

Tehran insists it is not aiming to construct a nuclear weapon. In reaction to the US and Israeli air attacks, the Iranian parliament has called for all cooperation with the IAEA to be suspended until the security of Iran's nuclear programme is guaranteed.