Iran Confirms Increased Inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency at Fordow

The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, after a report regarding increased oversight by the nuclear agency over the Fordow facilities, stated, "We will not create an obstacle for it," thereby confirming the report. Mohammad Eslami described the increased oversight by the agency on Saturday, December 15, as "natural," adding, "When, for example, your three units become five units, oversight increases accordingly." Reuters reported two days earlier, on December 13, that Iran had accepted the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) intensified oversight of the nuclear facilities at Fordow, near Qom. This news came after Rafael Grossi, the head of the IAEA, announced on December 7 that Iran's capacity to enrich uranium to 60% was increasing "significantly," primarily at the Fordow site. In his recent statements regarding the remaining disputes between the agency and the Islamic Republic, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization also said, "We will interact with the agency regarding the two remaining locations to close the files." This reference by the Iranian official pertains to Torqozabad and Varamin, where IAEA inspectors announced in March 2021 that they had discovered traces of "human-origin uranium". Rafael Grossi had previously stated that Iran had not provided credible technical explanations regarding the rejection of human-origin uranium particles at the Varamin and Torqozabad sites and had not informed the agency about the current locations of "contaminated" (with uranium particles) nuclear materials and equipment. In this context, Britain, Germany, and France, known as the "Troika," expressed readiness two days ago in a letter to the Security Council for the immediate reinstatement of all international sanctions against Tehran and the reactivation of the "snapback mechanism." According to UN Security Council Resolution 2231, issued nine years ago after Iran and six world powers reached the JCPOA agreement, these countries have until early autumn next year to invoke the so-called "snapback mechanism" to restore UN sanctions against Iran. Western countries argue that a nuclear program, if truly civilian, does not require uranium enrichment at the 90% level. The Islamic Republic of Iran denies any military objectives in the development of its nuclear program. On December 1, the IAEA Board of Governors approved a resolution supported by the US and three European countries condemning the Islamic Republic for expanding nuclear activities and failing to cooperate adequately with the agency. This was the second resolution condemning Tehran in six months. If international sanctions against the Islamic Republic are reinstated, Tehran will have to suspend all enrichment and nuclear reprocessing activities, including research and development, and will be deprived of importing any tools suspected of being used in the nuclear program.