Iran has increased its stockpile of enriched uranium to the level of near-missile weapons: UN report – National
Iran has ignored international demands to rein in its nuclear program and increased its stockpile of enriched uranium to near weapons-grade levels, according to a secret report by the United Nations nuclear watchdog seen Tuesday by The Associated Press.
A report by the International Atomic Energy Agency said that as of October 26, Iran had 182.3 kilograms (401.9 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60%, an increase of 17.6 kilograms (38.8 pounds) since the last report on – August.
Uranium enriched to 60% purity is only a short, technological step away from 90% weapons grade standards.
The IAEA also estimated in its quarterly report that as of October 26, Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium stood at 6,604.4 kilograms (14,560 pounds), an increase of 852.6 kilograms (1,879.6 pounds) from August. Under the IAEA’s definition, about 42 kilograms (92.5 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60% purity is the amount that is theoretically possible to build an atomic weapon – if the material is further developed, to 90%.
The reports come at a critical time as Israel and Iran have traded missile strikes in recent months after more than a year of war in Gaza, which is ruled by Hamas, an Iranian-backed group.
Adding to the complexity, the re-election of Donald Trump raises questions about how the incoming administration and Iran might interact.
Trump’s first term in office was marked by a troubled period, when he pursued a policy of “maximum pressure” against Tehran. He withdrew the United States from the Iran nuclear deal with world powers, which led to sanctions that disrupted the economy, and he also ordered the assassination of the country’s general.
Western politicians are looking to criticize Iran
Iran last week promised not to increase the amount of enriched uranium to 60%, during a visit to Tehran by the head of the IAEA, Rafael Mariano Grossi.
The IAEA said during the meetings, “the possibility that Iran will not continue to increase its stockpile of enriched uranium to 60% U-235, including the technical verification measures necessary for the Agency to verify this, if it is done.”
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The report said that one day after Grossi left Iran, on November 16, IAEA inspectors confirmed that “Iran has begun the implementation of preparatory measures aimed at stopping the increase of its uranium stockpile enriched up to 60% U-235” under of the world. nuclear sites at Fordow and Natanz.
The reports come ahead of this week’s regular meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna. The West has been considering a resolution criticizing Iran for its failure to improve cooperation with the organization.
The ambassador, who did not want to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue, said that it is possible that the commitments made by Iran during the IAEA’s main visit may not stop if the resolution is passed. In the past, Iran has responded to the decisions of the IAEA Board of Governors by continuing to develop its nuclear program.
Iran has kept its nuclear program strictly for peaceful purposes, but Grossi has previously warned that Tehran has enough uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels to make “many” nuclear bombs if it chooses to do so. He admitted that the UN agency would not guarantee that none of Iran’s centrifuges could be hacked for clandestine development.
There is little progress in improving the relationship
The IAEA also reported that Iran has failed to take concrete steps at present to improve cooperation, despite the requests of Grossi, who held talks last week with Mohammad Eslami of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the transitional President of Iran Masoud. Pezeshkian.
However, Tuesday’s classified report also said that during Grossi’s visit to Iran on November 14, “Iran agreed to respond to the Agency’s concerns related to Iran’s withdrawal of the appointment of experienced Agency inspectors by considering accepting the appointment of four additional experienced inspectors.”
In September 2023, Iran blocked some of the most experienced inspectors of the Vienna-based agency.
The report also stated that there has been no progress so far in the re-installation of additional monitoring equipment, including cameras, which were removed in June 2022. Since then, the only recorded data comes from IAEA cameras installed at the centrifuge workshop in Isfahan in May 2023 – although Iran has not yet done so. that. provided the IAEA with access to this data and inspectors were unable to service the cameras.
Last week, Eslami warned that Iran may retaliate if challenged at an upcoming IAEA board meeting. Grossi acknowledged that other countries are considering taking action against Iran.
In an effort to ensure that Iran cannot build atomic weapons, world powers made a deal with Tehran in 2015 in which they agreed to reduce uranium enrichment to the levels needed for nuclear power in order to lift economic sanctions. UN inspectors have been tasked with monitoring the process
Under the original 2015 nuclear deal, Iran was allowed to enrich uranium only up to 3.67% purity, could store a stockpile of 300 kilograms of uranium and was allowed to use only the basic IR-1 centrifuges, the machines orbiting uranium gas at high speed. for enrichment purposes.
A year after the US withdrew from the agreement under Donald Trump, Iran began to gradually abandon all the restrictions of the agreement placed on its program and began to enrich uranium up to 60% purity.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
