The Iranian leadership has rejected the accusations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The organization recently issued a synthesis report on “coordinated and secret” nuclear developments in the Islamic Republic. Opponents of the “nuclear” negotiations with Iran, which the United States continues, have already decided to turn the report into a new angle of attack on Iran. Israel called on the international community to “act without delay to stop Iran,” and the Europeans decided to put the issue on the agenda of the UN Security Council.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry called on its opponents to refrain “from any political exploitation of the content” of the new IAEA report, the authors of which accused the country of illegal development. “The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets the lack of impartiality on the part of the Director General (referring to the head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi. – “NG”) and his disregard for a professional approach caused by political pressure during the preparation and publication of the report, the diplomatic department said in a statement. – Iran’s uranium enrichment program is carried out exclusively for peaceful purposes. It is under full IAEA control and is completely transparent.”
Excerpts of a confidential IAEA report prepared at the request of the agency’s Board of Governors last year were published in Western news agencies on May 31. The report, which, by and large, summarized the expert conclusions of recent years regarding the Iranian nuclear program, documented “coordinated, secret activities related to the production of nuclear weapons” in the republic. It follows from the document that we are talking about at least three areas in Iran that have repeatedly raised questions from international inspectors. There, experts discovered “secret nuclear activities using materials not declared to the UN nuclear oversight body.”
The authors of the report call the level of cooperation between Iran and representatives of the IAEA still “unsatisfactory” in a number of aspects. Among them is the unwillingness to clearly explain the origin of highly enriched uranium particles at some research facilities.
At the same time, the authors of the report draw attention to the fact that the volume of uranium enriched to a level of 60% (close to weapons grade) has increased in Iran by about half recently (to 408.6 kg). The report notes that if this nuclear material is further enriched, it will be enough to create at least nine warheads, based on the criteria of the IAEA.
The report submitted by the agency, according to foreign diplomats who spoke with Reuters, could be a good reason to refer the issue of Iran’s undeclared nuclear activities to the UN Security Council. According to this information, four European countries have already expressed their willingness to use the findings of the IAEA report to submit a resolution condemning Iran to the UN Security Council. This could happen at a meeting on June 9, sources tell Reuters. This could probably be initiated by the Eurotroika (Britain, France and Germany), a group of countries that are signatories to the previous 2015 nuclear agreement– the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
The Israeli authorities have tried to seize on the new IAEA report, which has recently been trying to undermine the negotiation process between Iran and the United States. “The document (the IAEA report. – “NG”) paints a gloomy picture and serves as a clear warning: despite numerous warnings from the international community, Iran is still purposefully moving towards the creation of nuclear weapons, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. – The report strongly confirms what Israel has been insisting on for many years: the purpose of Iran’s nuclear program is by no means peaceful. This is clearly evident in the scale and level of Iranian uranium enrichment activities.”
The Israeli leadership appeals to the fact that Iran’s uranium enrichment levels are “characteristic exclusively of countries seeking nuclear weapons,” and that these approaches have no “justification in the civil and energy spheres.” “The report clearly indicates that Iran continues to grossly violate its key obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), as well as refuses to cooperate with IAEA inspectors. The international community must act without delay to stop Iran,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
It is possible that the IAEA report is timed to coincide with the next round of negotiations between the United States and Iran, which is scheduled to take place next week. It is expected that Washington and Tehran may conclude a framework agreement in the near future. According to White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt, the US administration has submitted to the Iranian leadership an “acceptable proposal” regarding the nuclear program.
One of the ideas approved by the United States provides for the creation of a Middle East consortium that will enrich uranium for civilian purposes under the supervision of the IAEA and the United States, according to Axios sources. Another idea approved by the administration of President Donald Trump is for the American side to recognize Tehran’s right to enrich uranium itself in exchange for the Islamic Republic to temporarily freeze the enrichment process.