IAEA says Iran prepares to produce enriched uranium metal

Published on : 07/07/2021 – 08:14

Iran has started a process to produce uranium metal enriched up to 20%, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported Tuesday (July 7th), a move that could help Tehran develop an nuclear weapon and which European powers have described as a threat to talks to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

This process, which Iran assures intended to produce fuel for a research reactor, has also been criticized by the United States, which has said to see it as an “regrettable step backwards”.

Representatives of the three European powers signatories to the agreement – United Kingdom, France, Germany (“E3”) – have made it clear that Tehran’s decision would complicate, even torpedo, the indirect discussions held to relaunch the agreement.

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Western powers have already this year condemned Iran’s plan to produce unenriched uranium metal in violation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) concluded in Vienna in the summer of 2015. .

The PAGC prohibits Tehran from carrying out work on uranium metal because of its possible use to produce a nuclear bomb.

Indirect discussions were initiated in the Austrian capital last April between the United States and Iran for a return of the two countries as part of the agreement. They were adjourned to June 20, without any date for resumption being set.

“Great concern”

Former US President Donald Trump denounced the agreement in 2018 and reinstated sanctions against Iran, pushing Tehran to break free, in stages, from the terms of the pact.

A confidential IAEA report that Reuters has been able to consult indicates that the UN agency has confirmed that Iran has taken steps to start producing enriched uranium metal.

In a joint statement, the E3 on Tuesday expressed their “great concern” about this “serious violation by Iran of its commitments”.

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Iran has “no credible civilian need to continue activities (…) on uranium metal, which is a key stage in the development of a nuclear weapon”, they say, denouncing “a further step in the escalation of Iran’s nuclear violations “and strongly calling on Tehran to” end without delay all activities it pursues in violation of the JCPOA “.

In Washington, the State Department described Tehran’s move as an “unfortunate step backwards,” while saying the United States is not setting a deadline for talks to revive the deal.

“It is worrying that Iran chooses the escalation” of non-fulfillment of its commitments, the spokesperson for the State Department said during a press briefing, stressing that the United States had them ” demonstrated (their) sincere intention and willingness to return to the agreement “.

With AFP