Grossi Criticizes Iran's 'Worrisome Rhetoric' and Continued High-Level Enrichment

Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated on Monday that despite United Nations pressures, the Islamic Republic continues to enrich uranium at levels far exceeding commercial needs. Grossi told Reuters that although the speed of uranium enrichment by the Islamic Republic has slightly decreased compared to late last year, the Iranian government still enriches about seven kilograms of uranium to 60% purity each month. Enriching uranium to 60% is close to the level necessary for producing nuclear weapons, and there is no need for such high purity uranium for commercial purposes. The Iranian government denies attempting to produce nuclear weapons, but no country has ever enriched uranium to such levels without pursuing nuclear weapons. Under the JCPOA agreement, Iran is allowed to enrich uranium to 3.67%. However, after Donald Trump's withdrawal from the JCPOA, the Islamic Republic has significantly exceeded these limits. According to figures provided by the IAEA, the Iranian government had reduced its enrichment rate to three kilograms per month from June to November last year, but increased it to nine kilograms per month by the end of last year. This increase occurred immediately after the Islamic Republic barred one-third of the IAEA's mostly experienced inspectors from participating in previously agreed oversight of the enrichment process. In his interview on Monday, Grossi stated that this cycle of reduction and increase does not change the fundamental trend of continuously increasing enriched uranium reserves. The IAEA had warned late last year that if the Iranian government proceeds with enriching its 60% uranium stockpile, it would have enough material to produce three bombs. Grossi mentioned that recently there have been 'worrisome statements' from senior Iranian officials suggesting that the Islamic Republic possesses all the necessary elements to produce nuclear weapons. According to the Director General of the IAEA, the situation in the Middle East has heightened concerns as Iranian officials now claim they are not receiving incentives from the West. Grossi added that this logic from the Islamic Republic is 'very complex' as the Iranian government is obliged to cooperate with the IAEA, and this cooperation should not be contingent on economic incentives or others. The Director General of the IAEA is scheduled to visit Russia and then Iran next month. He noted that Russia, having been involved in the JCPOA and efforts to revive it, must now play a 'role' regarding the Islamic Republic. Grossi's warning: the Islamic Republic is 'not completely transparent' about its nuclear program. Efforts to normalize bomb-making; Ali Akbar Salehi: We have all thresholds of nuclear science and technology. Criticism from the head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization towards the IAEA; they do not cooperate with us. Borrell is going to Kyiv to emphasize Europe's 'unwavering' support for Ukraine. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department: We are aware of the Director General's statements regarding the slowdown in uranium enrichment in Iran. The Director General of the IAEA: The speed of uranium enrichment in Iran has slowed slightly.