UN denounces Iran’s stockpiles of enriched uranium exceed 14 times the allowable limit

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), under the UN, claimed on Tuesday that Iran’s stocks of enriched uranium are 14 times higher than the allowable limit by the nuclear agreement signed in 2015.

Additionally, the agency said it was ‘Deeply concerned’ about possible presence of nuclear material in undeclared Iranian laboratory, according to a report consulted Tuesday.

In the report on Iran, the United Nations nuclear agency says the The Islamic Republic currently has 2,967.8 kilograms of enriched uranium, in small part (17.6 kilos) with a purity of up to 20%.

Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also warn that Iran has increased the number of more modern and faster centrifuges to produce enriched uranium, a material for civilian use, but also military, to manufacture bombs.

“The presence of anthropogenic uranium particles (generated by human activity) not reported by Iran clearly reflects the presence of nuclear material and / or equipment contaminated with nuclear material at that location “, ensures the agency.

“After 18 months, Iran still does not provide the necessary, complete and technically credible explanations ”, adds the IAEA, in the report of which it declares that its director, Argentinian Rafael Grossi, is “concerned about the lack of progress” on this issue.

The publication of this report comes at a time of Tension between Iran and Western countries after the entry into force of a law in the Islamic Republic on Tuesday which limits inspections by the United Nations agency.

Specifically, Iranians installed waterfalls with 348 IR-2m centrifuges, apart from the 5,060 IR1 machines authorized by the 2015 nuclear deal, known as JCPOA, in its acronym in English.

In addition, Iranian engineers continued their preparations for install more advanced and faster centrifuges again, of the IR4 and IR6 type, underlines the IAEA in its report.

The production of enriched uranium is at the center of the nuclear dispute with Iran.

The JCPOA allows enrichment up to 3.67%, but in 2019 Iran started to achieve purity above this level and since the end of last year it has already reached almost 20%, an important step in reaching the 80% or 90% required for an atomic bomb.

Iran, for its part, assures that it is claims made by Israel, its main enemy.

Israel’s intelligence services seized an important file on Iran’s nuclear activities about two years ago and released information about the alleged military intentions of Iran’s nuclear program until 2003.

The IAEA report was released on Tuesday, two days after an interim deal was reached with Iran, with more limited checks and inspections, over the next three months.

This change, negotiated by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi last weekend in Tehran, was necessary before the A law passed by the Iranian parliament came into force today that suspends a large part of international inspections and increases the annual production of 120 kilos of uranium to 20%.

Iran intends to pressure new US administration to lift sanctions, in particular the oil embargo, before joining the JCPOA again.

US President Joe Biden wants to return to the JCPOA, abandoned by his predecessor, Donald Trump, although he is once again demanding that Iran comply with all the rules of the pact. This treaty, signed by Iran then six great powers (USA, Russia, China, France, United Kingdom and Germany) severely limits Iran’s nuclear program to prevent the Islamic Republic from gaining control over atomic bombs. In return, international sanctions against Iran were lifted, although Trump reimposed punitive measures after the pact was released in May 2018.

With information from AFP and EFE

KEEP READING: