The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has recorded new Iran violations in the nuclear program. In its latest report, the agency confirmed that Iran has significantly increased the reserves of uranium enriched to a level close to what is needed for the production of nuclear weapons and refuses to allow inspectors to monitor its nuclear program.
Increase in reserves enriched uranium
According to the IAEA report, as of August 17, 2024, Iran accumulated 164.7 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60%, which is 22.6 kilograms more than in the previous report for May. Uranus enriched up to 60%can be additionally enriched to 90%, which is critical for nuclear weapons.
In addition, on August 26, 2024, the Iran confirmed that Iran completed the installation of eight cascades of the IR-6 centrifug at its underground plant in Fordo and continues the installation of 10 of the 18 planned Centrifuges IR-2M centrifuges in Nathang. These actions were previously convicted by the United Kingdom, Germany and France, who called them the escalation of Iran's nuclear program.
Refusal of inspections
Despite numerous calls for the international community, Iran refuses to give the IDA inspectors access to monitoring their nuclear program. Agency surveillance cameras installed on Iranian nuclear facilities do not work, which complicates the control of activity at these facilities.
The possibility of negotiations
The IAEA report appeared a few days after Iran's supreme leader, Ayatol Ali Hamenei, hinted at the possibility of restoring negotiations with the United States regarding the Iranian nuclear program. The 2015 Agreement, which former US President Donald Trump refused in 2018, envisaged the restriction of Iran's nuclear program in exchange for facilitating economic sanctions.
