IAEA Reports Surge in Iran's 60% Enriched Uranium Stockpile and Halt in Negotiations

Two confidential reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) indicate that Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels is continuously increasing, and discussions aimed at improving cooperation between Iran and the agency have been halted. The agency faces multiple challenges in carrying out its mission in Iran, with Rafael Grossi, the agency's director general, stating that Iran is only fulfilling a small portion of its commitments under the joint agreement signed last year. One of the agency's confidential reports, sent to its members and a copy of which was provided to Reuters on Tuesday, states: "There has been no progress in implementing the provisions of the March 4, 2023 agreement over the past year." About two weeks ago, Rafael Grossi traveled to Tehran for discussions with Iranian officials aimed at enhancing cooperation and oversight. The IAEA director general described Iran's cooperation as "unacceptable" and called for a change in Iran's approach. He also mentioned that both sides had reached a "common understanding" and that Tehran had expressed readiness to work on specific actions. However, following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a helicopter crash, negotiations between Tehran and the agency have come to a standstill. The IAEA's report further emphasizes the need for continued negotiations with the new Iranian government and the agency's readiness to continue high-level technical discussions that began on May 6 and 7. It has been about 18 months since the last resolutions against Iran were adopted by the IAEA Board of Governors, which instructed Iran to promptly facilitate conditions for surprise inspections and respond to the agency's questions regarding the discovery of uranium traces at undeclared facilities. Although the number of facilities under investigation has decreased to two, Iran has yet to explain how uranium traces ended up at these sites. The report also expresses the director general's regret over the unresolved longstanding issue regarding safeguards at Iranian facilities. Reuters reports that France and Belgium are seeking to adopt another resolution regarding Iran at the upcoming IAEA Board meeting next week, but the United States has not yet supported this request. On June 4, Reuters reported that the U.S. and three European countries have differing views on how to confront Iran through a resolution at the IAEA Board. The Wall Street Journal also claimed that the Biden administration is pressuring its European allies to back off from exerting pressure on Iran regarding its nuclear program to avoid escalating tensions ahead of the U.S. presidential elections in November. The report states that the U.S. opposes Britain's and France's attempts to criticize Iran at the upcoming Board meeting and is even pressuring some other countries not to participate in the voting session. The Iranian government typically describes the adoption of such resolutions as a political act against Iran's interests and reacts by taking new steps in its nuclear program. The second report from the agency notes that Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% increased by 20.6 kilograms in the three months ending on May 22, surpassing 142 kilograms. However, Iran later reduced 5.9 kilograms of this stockpile. Meanwhile, the agency's report from last March indicated that Iran had decreased its 60% enriched uranium stockpile compared to November 2023, which is close to the threshold for weapons-grade enrichment. According to the agency's measurement indicators, Iran's stockpile of 60% enriched uranium is sufficient to produce three nuclear bombs if its enrichment level is further increased to 90%. Western powers argue that enriching uranium to 60% has no credible civilian justification. In contrast, Iran consistently emphasizes that the goals of its nuclear programs are peaceful.