Vienna/Tehran, Feb 27 (.) The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said it is not in in a position to provide assurances on whether Iran’s nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful as Tehran claims, or if it’s being weaponised until the Islamic Republic allows it access to its key nuclear facilities of Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
The UN nuclear watchdog agency’s director Rafael Grossi said the agency has been unable to verify the status and location of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium since the military strikes conducted by Israeli and US armed forces against several Iranian nuclear sites in June.
The IAEA said it has not been granted access to Iran’s four declared enrichment facilities and has therefore lost “continuity of knowledge” over previously declared nuclear material at affected sites.
As a result, it cannot verify whether Iran has suspended all enrichment-related activities or confirm the current size, composition or whereabouts of its enriched uranium stockpile, reports Iran International.
According to Grossi, the watchdog agency “will not be in a position to provide assurance that Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively peaceful” until Iran fully resumes its cooperation, as Tehran has refused to provide access to its three sites which are key in its nuclear programme, or its vast arsenal of uranium.
“The director general calls on Iran to engage the agency constructively in order to facilitate the full and effective implementation of safeguards in Iran,” the IAEA report adds.
Inspectors have observed regular vehicular activity at the bombed sites, including the underground complex at Isfahan and the enrichment facilities at Natanz and Fordow, through satellite imagery.
While, outward imagery has shown some ongoing repairs, information on the operability status of any of these sites can’t be definitively stated, with Grossi noting that without on-site inspections, the agency cannot fully determine either the status of the sites, or the nature of the activities going on.
According to the IAEA, Iran holds 440.9 kg (972 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60% purity – a short technical step away from the 90% enrichment levels needed for weapons-grade uranium.
Grossi had previously said that while such material does not mean that Iran has a nuclear weapon as of yet, it could, still in theory, be more than sufficient for construction of multiple bombs if further enriched.
The warning came as Iran and the US recently concluded their indirect talks over Tehran’s nuclear activities, with no breakthrough, with the next round of discussions set for next week, despite heavy scepticism on both sides regarding diplomacy having any chance of success.
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