Vienna, July 3, 2025 (Agencies) — A veteran British intelligence officer allegedly operated within the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to influence global sanctions policy against Iran, according to a report by investigative outlet The Grayzone, citing leaked documents from a UK intelligence-linked entity known as Torchlight.
The operative, identified as Nicholas Langman, is said to have played a pivotal role in coordinating Western sanctions during his tenure at the UK Foreign Office’s Counter-Proliferation Centre between 2010 and 2012. His resume, reportedly found among the leaked files, claims he led inter-agency teams to counter the spread of weapons of mass destruction and provided strategic support to both the IAEA and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
Langman also allegedly facilitated diplomatic coordination with senior officials across the US, Europe, and the Middle East, contributing to what he described as the “major diplomatic success” of the Iran nuclear sanctions framework.
The revelations come amid heightened scrutiny of the IAEA’s impartiality. Iranian officials have long accused the agency of leaking sensitive data to adversaries. Tensions escalated last month when Israeli and US forces launched coordinated strikes on Iranian nuclear scientists and facilities, reportedly using intelligence linked to IAEA monitoring. Iran has since suspended cooperation with the agency, barred Director General Rafael Grossi from entering the country, and halted routine inspections.
The IAEA’s June 12 report accused Iran of violating the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), though no direct evidence of a weapons program was presented. The following day, Israel initiated its strikes, triggering a 12-day conflict that ended in a US-brokered ceasefire.
Russia has also condemned the IAEA’s role, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stating that agency data was used to plan the attacks, calling it a “colossal blow” to the watchdog’s credibility.
The IAEA has not yet responded to the allegations. If substantiated, the claims could further erode trust in the agency’s neutrality and complicate future diplomatic efforts surrounding Iran’s nuclear program.