Iran’s decision to deny access to its facilities to several inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has “directly and seriously affected” the ability to control its nuclear program, which continues to increase in power, according to the United Nations (UN) body. This movement ” unprecedented “which targets particular nationalities, is “extreme and unjustified”condemns the Agency in a confidential report consulted on Wednesday November 15 by Agence France-Presse (AFP) one week before a meeting of the Board of Governors in Vienna.
According to a diplomatic source, eight experts, French and German in particular, are concerned. The Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, received a response from Tehran on Wednesday, arguing that “his right” to revoke the accreditation of inspectors while saying “explore the possibilities” to reconsider his decision.
On other issues, the UN organization once again deplored the lack of cooperation from the Islamic Republic. The IAEA has been denouncing for months the disconnection of numerous surveillance cameras and the lack of explanations regarding the traces of uranium discovered on two undeclared sites, Turquzabad and Varamin.
22 times the authorized limit of enriched uranium
At the same time, Iran has significantly increased its stock of enriched uranium in recent months, continuing its nuclear escalation even if it denies wanting to acquire the bomb, according to a second report. Stocks stood at 4,486.8 kilos as of October 28 (compared to 3,795.5 kilos in mid-August), or more than 22 times the limit authorized by the 2015 international agreement governing Tehran’s atomic activities. in exchange for a lifting of international sanctions.
Iran is also enriching at high levels, far from the ceiling set at 3.67% equivalent to what is used in nuclear power plants for electricity production: it now has 567.1 kilos (compared to 535.8 kilos previously) enriched at 20% and 128.3 kilos at 60% (compared to 121.6 kilos). In the case of the 60% threshold, close to the 90% necessary to manufacture an atomic weapon, Tehran has however slowed down the pace of production since the spring.
Experts see this as a possible sign of Iran’s desire to defuse the situation, while informal talks had resumed with the United States. In recent weeks, the animosity between the two enemy countries has, however, increased a notch with the conflict between Israel and Palestinian Hamas, which Washington and Tehran mutually accuse each other of aggravating.