Iaea Report On Iran’s Nuclear Program Deemed ‘damning’ And ‘not Revelatory’

Various media outlets received a confidential study by nan International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) connected nan past, coming and early authorities of Iran’s atomic program. While immoderate called it “damning,” others opportunity there’s thing “revelatory” astir it.

The report, issued Saturday, May 31, was commissioned by nan IAEA’s 35-nation Board of Governors past November.

What precisely does nan IAEA study say?

In short, nan study recovered that Tehran had housed undisclosed atomic materials astatine 3 of nan 4 sites nan study was tasked pinch investigating, including Lavisan-Shian, Varamin and Turquzabad. Those sites, nan IAEA said, “were portion of an undeclared system atomic programme carried retired by Iran until nan early 2000s,” adding, “some activities utilized undeclared atomic material.”

In particular, nan study notes that astatine 1 site, a uranium metallic disc was “used successful nan accumulation of explosively-driven neutron sources” successful 2003, which could beryllium utilized arsenic a catalyst to detonate a atomic weapon, Reuters reports. Additionally, nan program’s atomic worldly and/or heavy contaminated instrumentality were reportedly stored astatine different tract betwixt 2009 and 2018.

However, arsenic nan nonpartisan Arms Control Association (ACA) notes, nan study besides stated that location are “no reliable indications of [an] ongoing, undeclared system atomic programme.”

No important developments since 2003

What isn’t disputed is nan truth that nan undisclosed atomic materials are connected pinch Iran’s erstwhile attempts to enrich uranium to weapons-grade levels, frankincense contravening its obligations nether nan Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty of 1968. However, nan study does not constituent to continued efforts aliases an ongoing, concealed atomic initiative, which Iran abandoned successful 2003.

U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard confirmed arsenic overmuch successful a March 26 reside to nan House Permanent Select Committee connected Intelligence, saying, “The [intelligence community] continues to measure that Iran is not building a atomic limb and Supreme leader Khomeini has not authorized nan atomic weapons programme that he suspended successful 2003.”

Since then, Iran has not wholly shied distant from a atomic program. But nan state maintains it is solely successful work of peaceful, civilian uses, including power production.

“If nan rumor is atomic weapons, yes, we excessively see this type of limb unacceptable. We work together pinch them connected this issue,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi precocious said of ongoing atomic negotiations pinch nan U.S.

In a abstracted study shared pinch nan Board of Governors connected Saturday, nan IAEA said Iran’s banal of uranium enriched by upwards of 60% has doubled since February. Once Uranium is enriched to 90%, it is considered weapons-grade. The 408.6 kilograms presently successful Iran’s possession would beryllium capable to build 9 atomic weapons, Reuters reports.

IAEA says it’s concerned, Iran says agency is politically motivated

The IAEA said that it is “of superior concern” that Iran is nan only state without atomic weapons but enriching its stockpile astatine specified a rate.

Iran, meanwhile, disputed nan findings successful nan study and called its publication politically motivated. “The Islamic Republic of Iran, while expressing regret complete nan publication of this report, which was prepared for governmental purposes done unit connected nan agency, expresses its clear objection to its content,” nan Iranian Foreign Ministry said successful a statement.

The IAEA criticized Iran’s practice pinch nan world agency arsenic “less than satisfactory” successful a “number of respects.” Should they take to, nan U.S., Britain, France and Germany could norm that Iran is successful usurpation of its obligations nether a 2006 non-proliferation pact and mention nan state to nan United Nations Security Council.

Washington, Tehran’s ongoing talks

The study comes astatine a clip erstwhile Tehran and Washington person been locked successful immoderate of their astir superior atomic talks since President Donald Trump, during his first word successful 2018, walked distant from nan Iran atomic woody brokered by then-President Barack Obama.

While those talks are presently successful a holding pattern, Araghchi said he met pinch Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi connected Saturday. Busaidi, who’s serving arsenic a mediator successful nan atomic negotiations betwixt Tehran and Washington, reportedly presented elements of a U.S. connection for atomic disarmament.

Details for nan adjacent information of talks are yet to beryllium disclosed.