logo
UN Atomic Watchdog Says Iran Uranium Stock Can't Be Ignored

UN Atomic Watchdog Says Iran Uranium Stock Can't Be Ignored

Bloomberg4 hours ago

The United Nations nuclear watchdog said Iran's rapidly increasing stockpile of uranium enriched to just below weapons grade cannot be ignored as western nations plan a firm response this week in Vienna.
The International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors is convening this week in the Austrian capital to discuss the Islamic Republic's failure to cooperate in a years-long probe, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi told reporters Monday, urging nations not to turn a blind eye to the country's rapidly expanding uranium inventory.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Israeli attack could drive Iran to seek nuclear weapons, IAEA chief warns
Israeli attack could drive Iran to seek nuclear weapons, IAEA chief warns

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Israeli attack could drive Iran to seek nuclear weapons, IAEA chief warns

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has warned that an Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear facilities could push Tehran closer to developing nuclear weapons as indirect talks between the United States and Iran continue through Omani mediation. Speaking to i24 News and The Jerusalem Post, Grossi said Iranian officials had cautioned him about the potential consequences of a strike. 'A strike could potentially have an amalgamating effect, solidifying Iran's determination – I will say it plainly – to pursue a nuclear weapon or withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,' he said in an interview that was published on Monday. Grossi added that he did not believe Israel would launch such an operation. 'But one thing is certain,' he said, 'The [Iranian] programme runs wide and deep. And when I say 'deep', I mean it. Many of these facilities are extremely well-protected. Disrupting them would require overwhelming and devastating force.' He made his comments as Iran prepares a counteroffer to a US proposal for a new nuclear Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that the US offer lacked key elements and failed to address sanctions relief – a longstanding demand from Tehran. 'We will soon submit our own proposed plan to the other side through Oman once it is finalised,' Baghaei said without elaborating on the details. He also criticised the IAEA's latest report on Iran's nuclear programme as 'unbalanced', accusing it of relying on 'forged documents' from Israel. The IAEA had recently described Iran's cooperation as 'less than satisfactory', particularly in clarifying past nuclear activities at undeclared locations. The US and Iran are trying to strike a new nuclear deal after a 2015 agreement was abandoned by US President Donald Trump in 2018 during his first term. In a surprise comment last week, Trump said he had warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to jeopardise the fragile negotiations. 'I told him this would be inappropriate to do right now because we're very close to a solution,' Trump said. It remains unclear when the next round of indirect negotiations will take place. Baghaei said talks are ongoing but did not give a date for the next meeting

Trump rejects Iran's counter-proposal in nuclear negotiations: 'it's just not acceptable'
Trump rejects Iran's counter-proposal in nuclear negotiations: 'it's just not acceptable'

Fox News

timean hour ago

  • Fox News

Trump rejects Iran's counter-proposal in nuclear negotiations: 'it's just not acceptable'

President Donald Trump on Monday confirmed he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding Iran and the ongoing negotiations. In speaking to reporters after the call he said he reiterated to Netanyahu Washington's push to make a deal avoid direct conflict. "We're trying to make a deal so that there's no destruction and death. And we've told them that, and I've told them that, and I hope that's the way it works out," Trump said. "But it might not work out that way. "We'll soon find out," he added. Trump claimed that Iran had already returned a counter-proposal to the U.S. following its rejection of a proposal given to them last week, though the president said "it's just not acceptable" and that more negotiations are needed, particularly regarding enrichment-related demands. The call came after the United Nation's nuclear watchdog, which is charged with monitoring all nations' nuclear programs, warned on Monday that it cannot verify whether Tehran's program is "entirely peaceful" despite the regime's claims. Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, on Monday issued a warning statement that the agency has not only long been barred access to old and new nuclear sites, but that Iran has scrubbed locations in an apparent move to cover up its activities. In 2020, the IAEA found man-made particles of enriched uranium at three sites, including Varamin, Marivan and Turquzabad. The locations were previously utilized in Iran's nuclear program and gave the agency credence to believe Tehran had once again turned to deadly nuclear ambitions. "Since then, we have been seeking explanations and clarifications from Iran for the presence of these uranium particles, including through a number of high-level meetings and consultations in which I have been personally involved," Grossi said. "Unfortunately, Iran has repeatedly either not answered, or not provided technically credible answers to, the Agency's questions. "It has also sought to sanitize the locations, which has impeded Agency verification activities," he added. Grossi, who confirmed during an April trip to Washington, D.C. that the IAEA has not been involved in nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, said on Monday that he has been working "closely and intensively" with both parties in "support of their bilateral negotiation[s]." The warning comes after the IAEA in a report late last month, also confirmed that Iran had drastically increased its stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium by nearly 35% in three months. In February, the IAEA assessed that Tehran possessed 274.8 kilograms (605.8 pounds) worth of uranium enriched to 60%, but on May 17th it found Iran now has some 408.6 kilograms (900.8 pounds) – meaning the regime is just a technical step away from being able to make up to 10 nuclear warheads. Last week, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei came out in strong opposition to a U.S. proposal submitted to Tehran to end its nuclear program, though it remains unclear what details were included in the document, including on enrichment capabilities, and on Sunday, Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf claimed the proposal didn't include any sanction relief. The White House has remained tight-lipped about what was included in the document, though according to some reporting, President Donald Trump gave Iran until June 11 to reach a deal with the U.S., though Fox News Digital could not independently verify these claims. On Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed that "The U.S. proposal is not acceptable to us. It was not the result of previous rounds of negotiations." "We will present our own proposal to the other side via Oman after it is finalized. This proposal is reasonable, logical, and balanced," Baghaei reportedly said. Some reporting has also suggested Iran might submit their proposal as soon as June 10, though the Iranian UN mission in the U.S. would not comment on or confirm these claims.

Iran and U.S. Face Off at Crucial IAEA Meeting
Iran and U.S. Face Off at Crucial IAEA Meeting

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Iran and U.S. Face Off at Crucial IAEA Meeting

The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog has called on Iran and the United States to find a "diplomatic solution" in talks over Tehran's nuclear program as a crucial quarterly meeting at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The IAEA's board of governors meeting is expected to hear and vote on a resolution finding Tehran in noncompliance with its safeguards for the first time in 20 years. Iran has vowed to take strong action against Western nations pushing the resolution at the gathering in the Austrian capital, with Behrouz Kamalvandi of Iran's atomic energy agency saying the IAEA "shouldn't expect the Islamic Republic of Iran to continue its broad and friendly cooperation" if the measure is approved. Speaking as the meeting kicked off in Vienna on June 9, Rafael Grossi said he was "convinced the only way forward is through a diplomatic solution." "Over the past months, I have worked closely and intensively with the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States, through active consultations, in support of their bilateral negotiations to reach a mutually acceptable agreement that guarantees the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program," Grossi added. In a June 6 post on X, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi slammed Britain, France, and Germany -- collectively known as the E3 -- for "falsely accusing Iran" of violating its obligations and claimed the move was "designed to produce a crisis." "Mark my words as Europe ponders another major strategic mistake: Iran will react strongly against any violation of its rights. Blame lies solely and fully with irresponsible actors who stop at nothing to gain relevance," Araqchi warned. A draft resolution prepared by the E3 and backed by the United States was shared on June 5 with the 35 members of the IAEA Board of Governors, which will meet until June 13. In its latest quarterly report, the IAEA said Iran has sharply increased its production of highly enriched uranium, stockpiling 408.6 kilograms enriched to 60 percent -- up from just under 275 kilograms in February. The agency also criticized Iran for poor cooperation, particularly its failure to explain nuclear traces detected at undeclared sites. While 60 percent enrichment is below the 90 percent threshold required for weapons-grade material, it far exceeds the 3.67 percent limit set by the 2015 international nuclear deal, which US President Donald Trump exited in 2018 during his first term in office. Trump returned to the presidency in January. It comes as Trump has been seeking to forge a deal with Iran to rein in its nuclear activities. Washington and Tehran have held five rounds of talks since Trump, who re-imposed sanctions after withdrawing from the 2015 deal, returned to office. Uranium enrichment has been a major sticking point. The US administration maintains Iran must cease all enrichment activities, and Iran has rejected that demand. Araqchi, who leads Tehran's negotiating team, on May 31 said he had received "elements" of a US proposal for a potential deal following the Omani-mediated talks. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on June 8 said that "the US plan does not even mention the lifting of sanctions." He accused Washington of attempting to impose a "unilateral" deal that Tehran would not be able to accept. Meanwhile, Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib claimed, without offering evidence, that Tehran had captured an 'important treasury' of information regarding Israel's nuclear program. The remarks came after Iran state broadcaster IRIB reported what it described as one of the "largest intelligence operations" in history against Israel, claiming Iranian intelligence obtained a vast cache of "sensitive documents" -- including thousands allegedly related to Israeli nuclear projects and facilities -- from inside Israeli territory. He said the documents -- which he claimed related to the United States, Europe, and others -- would "soon" be made public. By RFE/RL More Top Reads From this article on

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store