Iran’s new leaders stand at a nuclear precipice
The world’s atomic watchdog fears a terrifying regional arms race
![A portrait illustration of Rafael Grossi with the nuclear atomic symbol from the IAEA logo behind him.](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/content-assets/images/20240525_IRD001.jpg)
ON MAY 6TH Rafael Grossi, the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), travelled to Tehran and met Hossein Amirabdollahian, Iran’s foreign minister. Less than two weeks later, on May 19th, Mr Amirabdollahian was dead, killed in a helicopter crash that also took the life of Ebrahim Raisi, Iran’s president, among others.
Explore more
This article appeared in the International section of the print edition under the headline “How to avert a nuclear catastrophe”
More from International
![](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240810_IRP501.jpg)
Can Donald Trump’s Iron Dome plan keep America safe?
In a dangerous world, cutting-edge missile defence is all the rage
![](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240810_IRD001.jpg)
Why the war on childhood obesity is failing
Sugar taxes and obesity drugs will not be enough
![](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240727_IRP001.jpg)
Paris could change how cities host the Olympics for good
The games will test the success of new solutions to old bugbears
Could America fight its enemies without breaking the law?
The speed and intensity of prospective conflicts could test the laws of war
How China and Russia could hobble the internet
The undersea cables that connect the world are becoming military targets
Trump and other populists will haunt NATO’s 75th birthday party
Threats to Western alliances lie both within and without the club