The UN Nuclear Watch has warned that Tehran is closer to arms-grade enriched uranium as negotiations continue with the US.
United Nations nuclear observers say Iran has increased its highly enriched stockpile, which has increased by 50% near weapons-grade uranium in the past three months.
A report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Saturday claims that the nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only as nuclear deal negotiations are underway between the US and Iran.
As of May 17, Iran had collected 408.6kg (900.8lbs) of uranium, which was enriched to 60%. This is the only nuclear-weapon-free state, according to UN agencies, and since its last report in February, it had increased its inventory by almost 50%.
A wide range of secret reports seen by several media outlets said Iran carried out secret nuclear activities with material not declared to the IAEA at three locations that have been investigating for a long time, calling it “serious concern” and warned Tehran to change its course.
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragci reaffirmed the country’s longstanding position by saying that Tehran considers nuclear weapons “unacceptable.”
“If the issue is nuclear weapons, yes, we don’t think we can accept this type of weapon either,” Araguchi, Iran’s leading negotiator in nuclear negotiations with the US, said in a broadcast speech. “I agree with them on this issue.”
“Both sides will build leverage.”
However, the report, requested by the IAEA’s 35 countries in November, allows it to advance declare Iran in violation of the non-proliferation obligations of the US, UK, France and Germany.
On Friday, President Donald Trump said Iran “cannot have nuclear weapons.”
“They don’t want to be blown up. They want to trade,” Trump said: “That’s great that you can trade without the bombs dropping them all across the Middle East.”
In 2015, Iran signed a contract with the UK, the US, Germany, France, Russia, China and the European Union, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. It included lifting several sanctions against Tehran in exchange for restrictions on the nuclear development program.
However, in 2018, the US president unilaterally resigned from his contract and reimposed strict sanctions. Tehran then reconstructed its enriched uranium stockpile.
Last December, the IAEA said Iran was rapidly enriching uranium to 60% purity, approaching the 90% threshold required for weapons-grade materials.
Western countries say such intensive enrichment should not be part of a civilian nuclear program, but Iran claims it has not developed any weapons.
Hamed Musabi, a professor of political science at Tehran University, told Al Jazeera that the IAEA findings could indicate a potential negotiating tool for Iran during ongoing nuclear negotiations with the US.
“I think both sides are trying to build leverage on the other side. From an Iranian perspective, advances in the nuclear program will be leveraging them at the negotiation table with the Americans,” he said.
On the other side, the US may threaten more sanctions and may introduce Iran’s lawsuit to the UN Security Council over a violation of the 2006 non-proliferation agreement. However, he added that Iran has not made a “political decision” to build the bomb.
“We’ve concentrated up to 60%. [of uranium] – From an Iranian perspective, it’s a kind of leverage for Americans to lift sanctions,” Musabi said.
Source link
