Raisi Defends Uranium Enrichment to Near Weapons-Grade Levels

Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, defended uranium enrichment to levels close to those required for nuclear weapons production, claiming this action is a response to European countries that have not adhered to the nuclear agreement known as the JCPOA. He told CNN, "Initially, we were not seeking to enrich uranium to 60 percent purity. They |European countries| violated their commitments. What the Islamic Republic of Iran did was in response to the violation of commitments by the signatories of the JCPOA." Iran announced in April 2021 that it was enriching uranium to 60 percent purity following an attack on its nuclear facilities in Natanz, which the Islamic Republic blamed on Israel. This move alarmed the West, as it shortens the 'nuclear breakout time' for Iran to produce a nuclear weapon, which requires uranium enriched above 90 percent. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated that Iran is the only non-nuclear-weapon state enriching uranium to 60 percent purity. In late 2022, the IAEA reported that uranium particles enriched to 84 percent purity were found at the underground Fordow site. Last month, the IAEA announced that Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity, which is close to the level needed for nuclear weapons production, continues to increase, and there has been no progress in negotiations with the Islamic Republic regarding sensitive issues such as the origin of uranium particles at undeclared sites. The increase in Iran's enriched uranium stockpile near weapons-grade levels means that if the Islamic Republic decides to build a nuclear weapon, it could produce more nuclear bombs. The Islamic Republic claims it is not seeking to produce nuclear weapons and that its nuclear program is peaceful. The nuclear energy that the Islamic Republic claims is the goal of its nuclear program requires uranium enrichment between 3 to 5 percent. There are also concerns that if the Islamic Republic's nuclear program is not controlled, it could lead to further proliferation of nuclear weapons in the Middle East. Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, has stated that if Iran obtains a nuclear bomb, "we too must obtain one." The Islamic Republic argues that after the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA, other signatories have also not adhered to their commitments and instead continue to impose sanctions against Tehran. In September, Tehran revoked the credentials of several IAEA inspectors who were tasked with verifying the Islamic Republic's nuclear program. The Director General of the IAEA on Monday, September 18, warned about the consequences of the Islamic Republic's non-cooperation with the agency and urged Iranian officials to reconsider their decision to deny access to senior UN inspectors. On the same day, the three European countries and the U.S. issued a joint statement urging the Islamic Republic to immediately reverse its decision and "fully cooperate with the agency." The joint statement from France, Germany, the UK, and the U.S. described Iran's actions as another step in the wrong direction. Grossi's warning to the Islamic Republic emphasized that non-cooperation with the agency will have consequences. Qatar also urged the Islamic Republic to cooperate with the IAEA. The agency reported that Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels is increasing. In response to the Islamic Republic's missile display, the U.S. emphasized its commitment to countering Iran's destabilizing behavior. The display of drones and missiles in Tehran indicates that the Islamic Republic's destabilizing actions in the region continue.