Iran continues uranium enrichment, ignoring pressures

A secret IAEA report released this Thursday reveals that Iran has expanded its stockpile of highly enriched uranium over the past few months, continuing to extend its nuclear program, despite denying any intention to build an atomic bomb.

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After years of deteriorating relations with Tehran, IAEA Director Rafael Grossi expressed his “desire to visit Iran soon to establish a smooth and constructive dialogue leading to concrete results.”

In the confidential document prepared ahead of the Board of Governors meeting, scheduled to start on September 9 in Vienna, the UN headquarters, Grossi lamented Iran’s lack of cooperation.

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He had visited Iran in early May amid renewed concerns about the Islamic Republic’s intentions in a tense geopolitical atmosphere, but the assassination of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi led to the suspension of talks.

Since then, Iran’s nuclear program has continued to gain momentum, despite Tehran’s denial of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons.

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The UN agency’s report states that reserves of uranium enriched to 60% had reached 164.7 kg by August 17, compared to 142.1 kg in May, while producing a nuclear weapon requires enrichment levels of up to 90%.

The stockpile of uranium enriched to 20% also significantly increased, reaching 813.9 kg (compared to 751.3 kg three months earlier).

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The Islamic Republic has freed itself from the commitments it made under the 2015 international agreement signed with the United States, China, Russia, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

The agreement was intended to regulate Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for lifting international sanctions, but it collapsed after former U.S. President Donald Trump decided to withdraw from it in 2018. Negotiations in Vienna to revive it in the summer of 2022 failed.

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In addition to expanding its nuclear activities, Iran has significantly reduced site inspections by the IAEA, disconnected surveillance cameras, and revoked the accreditation of a team of experts.

The IAEA report states that all these actions “undermine” the agency’s ability to guarantee “the peaceful nature” of Tehran’s nuclear program.