Iran's Last-Ditch Effort to Prevent IAEA Resolution

Reuters reported that the Islamic Republic has proposed not to increase its enriched uranium stockpiles to 60 percent, provided that Western powers refrain from adopting a resolution against Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors. According to Reuters, the IAEA has stated in one of its two confidential reports that Iran has begun preliminary steps to implement this proposal. However, Western diplomats have described this proposal as a 'last-minute effort' to avoid condemnation, emphasizing that 60 percent enrichment has no civilian justification and that Iran could easily resume this process. The Reuters report also notes that Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles had reached 182.3 kilograms as of October 26, sufficient to produce four nuclear weapons according to IAEA standards, despite Iran's consistent denial of seeking nuclear weapons. The second IAEA report mentioned that Iran has agreed to consider allowing four new inspectors into the country, but these inspectors cannot be among those previously banned from working in Iran. According to this report, the resolution proposed by Britain, France, Germany, and the U.S. condemns Iran for insufficient cooperation with the IAEA and requests a comprehensive report on Iran's nuclear activities. Reuters added that this resolution is likely to pass, as only Russia and China traditionally oppose such resolutions. The aim of this resolution is to increase pressure on Iran to return to negotiations and accept new restrictions on its nuclear program. This resolution comes ahead of the official end of the 2015 agreement and in the context of the Trump administration's hardline policies against Iran. A U.S. State Department spokesperson announced on Tuesday that Washington fully supports efforts to hold Iran accountable for its lack of cooperation with the IAEA, in coordination with its European partners. Matthew Miller, in response to a question from a VOA Persian reporter about recent IAEA reports and the efforts of three European countries to reprimand Iran for its lack of cooperation with this UN oversight body, stated: 'Before the IAEA Board of Governors meeting, we are fully coordinated with our European partners and strongly support all efforts to hold the Iranian government accountable.' Miller added: 'I do not intend to predict actions that may be taken in the coming days in consultation with our partners, but I emphasize that we will be fully coordinated with them.' He also stressed that Washington will continue to work with IAEA Board members to ensure Iran's full cooperation with this body, so that the IAEA can ensure that Iran's nuclear program remains exclusively peaceful. The U.S. stated that Iran must be held accountable for its lack of cooperation with the IAEA. The IAEA reported that Iran's 60 percent uranium has increased by 17 kilograms. The U.S. and European powers are seeking to issue a resolution against the Islamic Republic. Iranian officials hope to resolve ambiguities in the JCPOA without political pressure. Rafael Grossi visited the Natanz and Fordow enrichment facilities.