[1/3]The logo of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is seen at the organization’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria, June 5, 2023. REUTERS/Leonhard Foger/File Photo License Rights Acquired
VIENNA, Nov 15 (Reuters) – Iran has enough uranium enriched to 60 percent near weapons-grade purity for three atomic bombs as defined by the International Atomic Energy Agency and is still obstructing the agency on key issues, confidential IAEA reports showed on Wednesday.
Iran’s steady progress in enriching to very high levels while failing to provide the International Atomic Energy Agency with the cooperation it requires on a growing list of issues poses a challenge to both the agency and Western powers, which have repeatedly called on Iran to reverse course.
Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent has risen by 6.7 kg (14.8 pounds) to 128.3 kg (282.9 pounds) since the last report on Sept. 4, said one of two reports to member states seen by Reuters. That’s more than three times the roughly 42 kg (92.6 pounds) that the IAEA defines as theoretically enough, if further enriched, for a nuclear bomb.
“It’s a pretty big amount, especially if you don’t use it for anything,” said a senior diplomat, referring to the fact that Iran is the only country to have enriched to such a high level without producing nuclear weapons. Weapon grade is about 90%.
Iran has enough uranium enriched to lower levels for more bombs, but denies seeking such weapons.
However, the rate at which Iran is enriching to 60 percent has slowed to about 3 kg (6.6 pounds) a month from 9 kg (19.8 pounds) earlier this year, which diplomats said was an apparent result of indirect negotiations with the United States that led to a prisoner exchange between the two countries in September.
The number of cascades, or clusters, of operating uranium enrichment centrifuges also remains unchanged, the report said. However, tensions between the agency and Iran only increased.
The 35-nation UN nuclear watchdog’s Board of Governors passed a resolution a year ago ordering Iran to comply with an IAEA investigation into traces of uranium found at three undeclared sites. The IAEA has since narrowed the list of sites to two, but little other progress has been made.
NO CONSEQUENCES
The IAEA’s list of pressing issues in Iran has also expanded, with a deal in March to reinstall surveillance equipment, including surveillance cameras removed last year at Iran’s behest, only partially honored, and Tehran’s so-called “demarcation” in September by highly experienced IAEA inspectors.
The second report, released Wednesday, said there had been no progress on those issues. IAEA chief Raffaele Grossi wrote to Iran asking it to reconsider the revocation of the designation, and Iran responded on Wednesday by simply saying it was “exploring options to consider the request,” the report said.
“This measure, although officially authorized … has been exercised by Iran in a manner that directly and seriously affects the Agency’s ability to effectively conduct its verification activities in Iran, particularly at the enrichment facilities,” the second report said .
“The (IAEA) Director General (Grossi) continues to strongly condemn Iran’s sudden withdrawal of the appointments of several experienced Agency inspectors,” it added.
Despite the standoff over inspectors, particles and monitoring equipment, Iran is unlikely to face any serious consequences when the IAEA’s board meets next week.
While the United States and its European allies have previously threatened to pass another binding resolution against Iran, diplomats say that will not happen this time for reasons including avoiding a diplomatic escalation with Iran while attention is focused on Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
Additional reporting by John Irish in Paris; Editing by Toby Chopra and Jonathan Oatis
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