Amidst escalating tensions, Iran's foreign minister cautions European nations against supporting accusations of non-compliance.
Iran's Nuclear Compliance Under Scrutiny: IAEA Report Finds Violations
Iran's Nuclear Compliance Under Scrutiny: IAEA Report Finds Violations
The International Atomic Energy Agency raises concerns about Iran's nuclear obligations, warning of potential UN Security Council referral.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported that Iran has failed to meet its nuclear non-proliferation commitments for the first time in two decades. This critical finding comes after the IAEA's board of governors passed a resolution that could lead to a referral to the United Nations Security Council if Iran does not change its course. The agency's report highlighted a troubling lack of cooperation from Iran and pointed to secret activities involving undeclared nuclear material, particularly in regions currently under scrutiny.
Iran's foreign minister responded swiftly to the resolution, warning European powers that supporting the IAEA's motion would be a grave mistake and that Iran would respond decisively. This development poses a significant challenge for ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States aimed at establishing a new nuclear agreement.
Additionally, tensions in the Middle East have heightened following advisories from the U.S. for some citizens to exit the region due to reports of impending Israeli military actions targeting Iranian nuclear facilities. Iran has consistently claimed that its nuclear endeavors are peaceful and that it has no intentions of developing or acquiring nuclear weapons.
In 2015, Iran entered into a landmark nuclear accord with six world powers, wherein it agreed to scale back its nuclear activities and allow increased IAEA oversight in exchange for relief from stringent international sanctions. However, following the withdrawal of the U.S. from the agreement in 2018 under President Trump—who criticized it as inadequate to prevent Iran from developing nuclear capabilities—U.S. sanctions were re-imposed, leading to Iran's gradual escalation of nuclear activities in defiance of the original agreement.
The IAEA's latest findings indicate that Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% purity has surpassed 408kg (approximately 900 lbs), a level that is alarmingly close to weapons-grade material and sufficient to create up to nine nuclear bombs if processed further.
