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The UN nuclear watchdog warns Tehran may very well be near weapons-grade enriched uranium, as negotiations with the US proceed.
The United Nations nuclear watchdog says Iran has elevated its stockpile of extremely enriched, close to weapons-grade uranium by 50 p.c within the final three months.
The report by the Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company (IAEA) on Saturday comes as nuclear deal negotiations are below manner between the USA and Iran, with Tehran insisting its nuclear programme is for peaceable functions solely.
The IAEA mentioned as of Could 17, Iran had amassed 408.6kg (900.8 kilos) of uranium enriched as much as 60 p.c – the one non-nuclear weapon state to take action, in accordance with the UN company – and had elevated its stockpile by virtually 50 p.c to 133.8kg since its final report in February.
The wide-ranging, confidential report seen by a number of information companies mentioned Iran carried out secret nuclear actions with materials not declared to the IAEA at three places which have lengthy been below investigation, calling it a “severe concern” and warning Tehran to vary its course.
Iranian International Minister Abbas Araghchi, nevertheless, reaffirmed the nation’s longstanding place, saying Tehran deems nuclear weapons “unacceptable”.
“If the problem is nuclear weapons, sure, we too think about this kind of weapon unacceptable,” Araghchi, Iran’s lead negotiator within the nuclear talks with the US, mentioned in a televised speech. “We agree with them on this concern.”
‘Either side constructing leverage’
However the report, which was requested by the IAEA’s 35-nation board of governors in November, will enable for a push by the US, Britain, France and Germany to declare Iran in violation of its non-proliferation obligations.
On Friday, US President Donald Trump mentioned Iran “can’t have a nuclear weapon”.
“They don’t wish to be blown up. They might moderately make a deal,” Trump mentioned, including: “That will be an important factor that we may have a deal with out bombs being dropped all around the Center East.”
In 2015, Iran reached a take care of the UK, US, Germany, France, Russia, China and the European Union, generally known as the Joint Complete Plan of Motion. It concerned the lifting of some sanctions on Tehran in return for limits on its nuclear growth programme.
However in 2018, then US President Trump unilaterally stop the settlement and reimposed harsh sanctions. Tehran then rebuilt its stockpiles of enriched uranium.
In December final yr, the IAEA mentioned Iran was quickly enriching uranium to 60 p.c purity, shifting nearer to the 90 p.c threshold wanted for weapons-grade materials.
Western nations say such intensive enrichment shouldn’t be a part of a civilian nuclear programme, however Iran insists it isn’t creating weapons.
Hamed Mousavi, professor of political science at Tehran College, advised Al Jazeera the IAEA findings may point out a attainable negotiation software for Iran throughout its ongoing nuclear talks with the US.
“I feel either side are attempting to construct leverage in opposition to the opposite facet. From the Iranian perspective, an development within the nuclear programme goes to carry them leverage on the negotiation desk with the People,” he mentioned.
On the opposite facet, he mentioned, the US may threaten extra sanctions and can also refer the Iranian case to the UN Safety Council for its breach of the 2006 non-proliferation settlement. Nonetheless, he added that Iran has not made the “political choice” to construct a attainable bomb.
“Enriching as much as 60 p.c [of uranium] – from the Iranian perspective – is a kind of leverage in opposition to the People to carry sanctions,” Mousavi mentioned.
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