Grossi: Iran's enriched uranium reserves have increased by over 25% in three months

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced on Tuesday, June 5, that Iran's enriched uranium reserves have increased by more than a quarter in three months. Rafael Grossi addressed the agency's board, stating that these reserves include uranium enriched up to 20% and over 100 kilograms of high-enriched uranium up to 60%. According to a statement published on the IAEA's website on Tuesday, Grossi added that the agency has been unable to carry out verification and monitoring activities regarding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) for two years and three months, including concerning the production and inventory of centrifuges, heavy water, and uranium ore concentrate; particularly after June 2022, when no monitoring equipment related to the implementation of the JCPOA was installed or activated. The Islamic Republic ordered the removal of equipment that had been installed under the JCPOA last year. According to Rafael Grossi, the equipment that has been reinstalled is only a small part of what the IAEA had planned to install according to an agreement made last March with the Islamic Republic to improve its monitoring of Iran's nuclear activities. In another part of his remarks, the IAEA head noted that the Islamic Republic is only cooperating with part of the nuclear inspection requirements. Rafael Grossi described what he called 'positive steps' by the Islamic Republic in restoring some aspects of IAEA nuclear oversight, telling the agency's board: 'But this is only a small part of what we anticipated, and what needs to happen now is a sustainable and uninterrupted process to fulfill all commitments outlined in the joint statement without further delay.' The IAEA recently reported that Iran provided a satisfactory response regarding one of its nuclear sites, named 'Marivan,' where traces of uranium had been found. According to Reuters, a senior agency official stated that the presence of uranium particles is due to a mine and laboratory managed by the former Soviet Union at that location, and the agency has no further questions on this matter. This issue faced strong criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who accused the IAEA of ineffective oversight of the Islamic Republic's nuclear activities and added that the agency is at risk of becoming politicized. He stated, 'Iran continues to lie to the IAEA' and described the agency's 'capitulation to Iranian pressure' as 'a black mark on its record.' According to Netanyahu, 'If the agency becomes a political organization, its monitoring activities in Iran and its reports on Iran's nuclear activities will become irrelevant.' In this context, Rafael Grossi stated on Tuesday that Iran has provided a 'possible explanation' for the presence of depleted uranium at the Marivan site. He noted that 'our assessment for this location remains in place, and I reiterate that the remaining safeguards issues arising from Tehran's commitments under the comprehensive safeguards agreement between Iran and the agency still need to be resolved for the agency to ensure that Iran's nuclear program is entirely peaceful.' The United States has repeatedly emphasized the necessity of preventing the Islamic Republic from acquiring nuclear weapons, stating that diplomacy is the top priority in achieving this goal, but if Iran rejects the diplomatic path, 'all options are on the table to ensure that Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons.'