USA: The Islamic Republic Must 'Dilute' All of Its 60 Percent Enriched Uranium Reserves

On Wednesday, March 6, the United States condemned many of the recent nuclear actions of the Islamic Republic of Iran in a statement, calling for the dilution of all 60 percent enriched uranium reserves and a complete halt to the production of enriched uranium at this level. The U.S. described Iran's nuclear activities as 'deeply concerning' and stated that the Iranian government continues to expand its nuclear program and produce highly enriched uranium, which has 'no legitimate peaceful purpose.' The statement, read at the quarterly meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), emphasized, 'Iran must dilute all of its 60 percent reserves, not just part of it, and completely stop the production of uranium enriched to 60 percent.' The statement, presented by Laura Holgate, the U.S. envoy to the IAEA, noted that no other country produces 60 percent enriched uranium for the claimed purposes of the Islamic Republic. It underscored that Iran's actions contradict the behavior of other non-nuclear states party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Last week, the IAEA reported in a confidential document to its 35 member states that Iran's 60 percent enriched uranium reserves had 'slightly' decreased in the last three months, but the total reserves of enriched uranium in Iran continue to rise. The IAEA's report indicated that Iran has reduced its 60 percent enriched uranium reserves by 6.8 kilograms since early November, bringing it down to 121.5 kilograms. A report seen by Reuters shows that Iran still possesses enough of this material that, if further enriched, according to IAEA definitions, would be sufficient for the fuel of two nuclear weapons and, at lower enrichment levels, enough for more bombs. According to the IAEA's definition, Iran needs at least 42 kilograms of 60 percent enriched uranium to produce one nuclear bomb. It is unclear why the Islamic Republic of Iran has reduced its 60 percent enriched uranium reserves. The Islamic Republic claims it has the right to enrich to high levels for 'non-military purposes.' Western countries argue that there is no 'credible non-military justification' for enriching to such high levels. Meanwhile, a group of 10 Republican senators expressed concerns about the Islamic Republic's uranium enrichment program and urged the Biden administration to condemn the Iranian government at the upcoming IAEA meeting. Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the IAEA, stated that the Islamic Republic has not changed its decision regarding the ban on the activities of 'several experienced agency inspectors' and emphasized that the Iranian government has stopped implementing the Additional Protocol for three years and has restricted the agency's access. In its new statement, the U.S. described Iran's level of cooperation with the IAEA as 'unacceptable' and 'far less' than the expectations set by the agency's Director General. The statement noted that the Iranian government's decision to remove experienced agency inspectors has 'seriously' impacted the agency's verification activities. Earlier this year, the Islamic Republic informed the IAEA that it was in the process of removing the names of some inspectors who previously had inspection authorization in Iran. The U.S. emphasized that this action followed unannounced changes in the cascades of advanced centrifuges at Fordow, which was an 'open violation' of Iran's safeguard commitments. A group of Republican senators urged the Biden administration to condemn the Islamic Republic at the IAEA meeting. Grossi noted that Iran's enriched uranium reserves continue to increase. The IAEA report indicated that the Islamic Republic has 'for the first time' reduced its 60 percent enriched uranium reserves. Grossi criticized the Iranian government's 'worrisome rhetoric' and the continuation of high-level enrichment. The Director General warned that the Islamic Republic is 'not fully transparent' about its nuclear program. There are efforts to normalize the construction of nuclear bombs; Ali Akbar Salehi stated, 'We have all the thresholds of nuclear science and technology.'