Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched, near-waffen-grade uranium has increased by 50% in the last three months, according to the UN nuclear watchdog.
The United States and Iran are currently negotiating a nuclear deal, according to the report released by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Saturday, with Tehran insisting that its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes.
Iran, the only non-nuclear weapon state, had accumulated 408.6 kg (900.8 pounds) of uranium as of May 17 according to the IAEA, and had increased by almost 50% to 133.8 kg since its last report in February.
Tehran was advised to change its course in a broad-based, secretive report spotted by several news organizations that claimed Iran engaged in secret nuclear activities at three locations that have long been the subject of an investigation.
Abbas Araghchi, the country’s foreign minister, said Tehran deems nuclear weapons “unacceptable.” He later reiterated the country’s longstanding position.
In a televised speech, Araghchi, Iran’s lead negotiator in the nuclear negotiations with the US, said, “Yes, we too consider this type of weapon unacceptable.” On this point, “We concur with them.”
“Both sides building leverage”
The 35-nation board of governors of the IAEA requested the report in November, which will allow the US, Britain, France, and Germany to press for an international declaration that Iran is in violation of its non-proliferation obligations.
Donald Trump, the president of the United States, stated on Friday that Iran “cannot have nuclear weapons.”
They oppose being blown up. Trump continued, “It would be great that we could have a deal without bombs being dropped all over the Middle East,” adding that they would prefer to make a deal.
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was reached by Iran with the United Kingdom, the US, Germany, France, Russia, China, and the European Union in 2015. Tehran was subject to sanctions that were lifted in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear development program.
However, US President Trump renounced the deal and reinstituted severe sanctions in 2018. Then, Tehran rebuilt its enriched uranium stockpiles.
Iran’s uranium was rapidly increased to 60 percent purity, according to the IAEA in December of last year, making the 90 percent mark for weapons-grade material more likely.
Iran insists it is not developing weapons, despite the claims that Western countries oppose such extensive enrichment.
Iranian professor of political science Hamed Mousavi claimed that the IAEA’s findings could provide an opportunity for Iran to negotiate while its ongoing nuclear negotiations with the US are ongoing.
“I believe that each side is attempting to use leverage against the opposing side.” A breakthrough in Iran’s nuclear program will give them more leverage in the negotiations with the Americans, he said.
He added that the US might impose additional sanctions and may refer the Iran case to the UN Security Council because it violated the non-proliferation agreement in 2006, among other things. He continued, adding that Iran has not yet “made the political decision” to build a potential bomb.
Source: Aljazeera
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