Grossi’s New Claim on Iran’s Uranium Enrichment
WANA (Oct 29) – Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has claimed that Iran is not currently conducting active uranium enrichment, though “movements” have been observed around storage sites containing enriched uranium.
Speaking to the Associated Press at the United Nations headquarters on Wednesday, Grossi stated that while IAEA inspectors do not currently have access to Iran’s nuclear facilities, satellite imagery has shown no signs of accelerated enrichment beyond levels observed prior to the recent 12-day conflict with Israel.
“That said, uranium enriched up to 60 percent remains in Iran,” Grossi noted. “This is one of the issues we are discussing, as we must return to verify that the material is still located where it should be and has not been diverted for other purposes. This is very, very important.”
He further claimed that inspectors have detected movements around sites where uranium stockpiles are stored. In the absence of direct access, he said, the agency must rely on satellite data, which “can only provide partial information.”
Fordow Nuclear facility after U.S. strike. Social media/ WANA News Agency
Cooperation between Iran and the IAEA had been suspended following unlawful attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities. In response, Iran’s parliament passed legislation in July requiring the government to halt cooperation with the agency until specific conditions outlined in the law are met.
Subsequently, Tehran and the IAEA engaged in talks to determine how cooperation might resume. On September 8, both sides reached an understanding regarding future engagement “in light of the new situation” created by the unlawful attacks on Iran’s civilian nuclear infrastructure.
However, Europe’s decision to reimpose the UN Security Council resolutions previously lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal (the JCPOA) — through the so-called snapback mechanism — has effectively frozen implementation of that agreement.
The Associated Press noted that the European move has “further complicated the already fragile relationship between Iran and the IAEA.” Grossi, however, confirmed that as of Wednesday, “IAEA inspectors are present inside Iran.”
Grossi’s Duality in the Face of Iranian Diplomacy
WANA (Oct 29) – When Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), recently warned that “if diplomacy fails, there may be a return to the use of force,” his words were not heard in Tehran as a warning — but as an admission. An admission of what had already happened: the […]
The Islamic Republic of Iran maintains that its cooperation with the agency is based on the parliamentary law. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei reiterated: “We remain a party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and committed to our safeguards obligations. Within that framework, and in accordance with the parliamentary law — which designates the Supreme National Security Council as the responsible authority — our interactions with the agency are conducted.”
He added that certain aspects of cooperation with the IAEA are routine and in the national interest: “For instance, fuel replacement at the Bushehr nuclear power plant — which we all want to continue operating normally — and oversight of the Tehran Research Reactor, which produces essential medical isotopes for patients, are naturally ongoing.”
Baghaei concluded: “The basis of our cooperation with the IAEA under current conditions is the parliamentary law. Any requests from the agency are reviewed case by case, and action is taken according to the decisions of the Supreme National Security Council.”
