A confidential report from the UN nuclear watchdog said on Saturday that Iran further increased its uranium-rich stockpile, at weapons-rich levels, and called on Tehran to urgently change courses and comply with the agency's investigation.
The news was published during a sensitive period, as Tehran and Washington held several rounds of talks in recent weeks on a possible nuclear deal that U.S. President Donald Trump has sought to reach.
The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that as of May 17, Iran had accumulated 408.6 kilograms of uranium, enriching 60%.
This has increased by 133.8 kg, or nearly 50% since the last IAEA report in February. 60% of the rich material is just one step away from 90% of the weapon level. A February report put the inventory level at 274.8 kg.
Tehran did not immediately comment on the new IAEA report.
What does the report say?
The IAEA report has raised a harsh warning that Iran is now “the only non-nuclear-weapon state that produces such materials” – what the agency calls “serious concern”.
According to the watchdog, in theory, about 60% of the enrichment of uranium is enough to produce an atomic bomb, if further enriched to 90%.
The IAEA report (quarterly) also estimates that as of May 17, Iran's overall reserves of uranium enrichment (including enrichment to lower levels) were 9,247.6 kg. This has increased by 953.2 kg since the February report.
Iran maintains its nuclear program for peace purposes only, but IAEA head Rafael Mariano Grossi warned Tehran has enough uranium enrichment to near weapon level to make “several” nuclear bombs if it chooses to do so.
Iranian officials are increasingly suggesting Tehran can hunt down the atomic bomb.
U.S. intelligence agencies assess that Iran has not launched a weapon program, but “the activities carried out can better position its production of nuclear devices (if you choose to do so).
Israel's rapid response
Israel said Saturday’s report was a clear warning sign that “Iran is fully determined to complete its nuclear weapons program,” according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
It said the IAEA report “strongly strengthens what Israel has been saying for years – the purpose of Iran’s nuclear program is not peace.”
It also added that Iran's abundance “has no reason for civilians” and appealed to the international community to “take immediate action to stop Iran.”
Call for cooperation
Grossi said on Saturday that he “reaffirmed the urgent call to Iran to cooperate fully and effectively,” the International Atomic Energy Agency conducted a years-long investigation into traces of uranium found in several sites in Iran.
The IAEA also circulated a second 22-page confidential report to member states on Saturday, which was also seen by the AP, requested after a resolution passed by the 35-member IAEA Committee last November.
IAEA said in this “comprehensive report” that Iran's cooperation with the agency was “less satisfactory” when Iran found that Tehran failed to declare it as a nuclear site.
CBC News Senior International Correspondent Margaret Evans asked Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei about Tehran's interest in restoring diplomatic relations with Ottawa since 2012.
Western officials suspect traces of uranium found by the International Atomic Energy Agency could provide evidence that Iran did not have secret military nuclear programs until 2003.
One of the sites became publicly known in 2018 after Netanyahu revealed it at the United Nations and called it a secret nuclear warehouse hidden in a carpet cleaning plant.
Iran denied this, but in 2019, IAEA inspectors found artificial uranium particles there.
What is the IAEA inspection in Iran?
After initially blocking the IAEA, inspectors were able to collect samples from two other locations in 2020, where they also detected the presence of artificial uranium particles.
These three locations are called Turquzabad, Varamin and Marivan.
The fourth unannounced location, known as Lavisan-Shian, is also part of the IAEA investigation, but IAEA inspectors have never visited the site because it was razed and demolished by Iran after 2003.
The IAEA said in its comprehensive report on Saturday that the “lack of answers and clarifications provided by Iran” raised questions from supervisors about Lavisan-Shian, Varamin and Marivan.
What's next?
Saturday's report could be the basis for possible further measures by European countries, leading to a potential escalation of tensions between Iran and the West.
European countries can take action to trigger counterattacks against Iran, which was lifted under the original nuclear agreement before October 2015, which officially expires.
On Thursday, senior Iranian officials dismissed speculation about an imminent nuclear deal with the United States, stressing that any agreement must lift sanctions altogether and allow the country's nuclear program to continue.
The comments were posted on Trump that he had told Netanyahu to postpone a strike in Iran to give the U.S. government more time to engage in new deals with Tehran.
Trump said Friday that he still believes a deal can be reached in the “not too far future.”
“They don't want to be bombed. They would rather have a deal,” Trump said of Iran, adding: “It would be a great thing, we can have a deal without bombs falling across the Middle East.”
