Nuclear inspection further hampered
Iran cuts back uranium production
9/4/2023 4:02 p.m
In March, Iran gave the International Atomic Energy Agency approval to have its nuclear program monitored more closely. However, access to surveillance camera recordings has not been forthcoming to this day. Nevertheless, the IAEA has made progress.
According to reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran has reduced production of highly enriched uranium in recent months. At the same time, the Islamic Republic is blocking several steps agreed in March to monitor its nuclear program more closely, said IAEA boss Rafael Grossi.
Iran increased its supply of 60 percent near-weapons-grade uranium by just 13.9 kilograms to 121.6 kilograms last quarter, according to one of the two reports Grossi sent to IAEA member states. This roughly halved the growth rate compared to the previous quarterly report. According to nuclear experts, a nuclear weapon could be manufactured with around 50 kilograms of this highly enriched uranium if the material were enriched to a purity of 90 percent.
“No progress”
In another report, Grossi regretted that Iran did not give the IAEA access to surveillance camera footage set up in May. He also criticized Tehran for refusing visas to IAEA inspectors. “No progress” has been made in clarifying open questions about past nuclear activities.
In 2015, Iran pledged to drastically limit its uranium enrichment. This was to prevent the construction of nuclear weapons. Since the United States, under then-President Donald Trump, withdrew from the pact in 2018, Tehran has gradually broken its commitments and, among other things, started producing highly enriched uranium.