Iran’s production of highly enriched uranium continues unabated, raising concerns within the international community. Despite a resolution passed at the last meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors in June, demanding improved cooperation, Iran has not taken steps to address the agency’s concerns. This lack of progress comes amidst a period of political transition, with the recent election of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and the upcoming U.S. presidential election in November.
The IAEA’s Director General, Rafael Grossi, has expressed hope that initial exchanges with President Pezeshkian will lead to constructive dialogue and concrete results. However, the two confidential IAEA reports released on Thursday indicate that little progress has been made on several long-standing issues that have strained relations between Iran and the IAEA. These issues include Iran’s refusal to allow IAEA inspectors specialized in enrichment access to facilities, as well as its failure to explain the presence of uranium traces at undeclared sites.
In the meantime, Iran has continued to expand its enrichment capabilities. The country has added cascades of centrifuges, the machines used to refine uranium, at its main enrichment sites in Natanz and Fordow. At Fordow, a site dug deep into a mountain, eight more cascades of advanced IR-6 centrifuges have been installed, bringing the total to ten. While these new cascades are not yet enriching uranium, their presence further increases Iran’s capacity for uranium enrichment.
Iran’s stock of uranium enriched to 60% purity, close to the 90% purity required for weapons-grade material, has also grown significantly. According to the IAEA, this stockpile now stands at 164.7 kg, just 2 kg short of the theoretical amount required for four nuclear bombs, if further enriched. Iran also possesses enough uranium enriched to 20% purity, which, if enriched further, could be used for six bombs.
The ongoing situation highlights the challenges facing the international community in ensuring that Iran’s nuclear program remains peaceful. The IAEA’s concerns regarding Iran’s lack of transparency and continued uranium enrichment activities remain a significant source of tension. The coming months will be crucial for determining whether the new Iranian administration is willing to engage in meaningful dialogue with the IAEA and the international community to address these concerns.
