Iran’s enriched uranium stocks are almost eight times as high as permitted by the 2015 International Atomic Energy Agreement, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In a report on Iran’s nuclear activities, the IAEA said yesterday that instead of the 202.8 kilogram allowance, Iran had 1571.6 kilograms of enriched uranium on May 20.
This was determined by inspectors from the IAEA. Tehran also continues to deny access to two facilities that the agency intends to inspect as part of its review mission. That is cause for „serious concern“. The inspectors therefore tried unsuccessfully for four months to gain access. These are two of a total of three plants that the IAEA wants to check for a possible earlier existence of material and undeclared nuclear activities that have nothing to do with Tehran’s current program.
Attempts to save the agreement
The IAEA monitors worldwide uranium stocks and has paid particular attention to them in the case of the Islamic Republic. In June 2015, the five UN veto powers and Germany signed a nuclear deal in Vienna after years of negotiations with Iran. It is designed to ensure that the Islamic Republic does not, at least in the foreseeable future, acquire the capabilities to build an atomic bomb.
Tehran had agreed to comply with uranium enrichment ceilings. However, US President Donald Trump unilaterally canceled the agreement in May 2018 and imposed new sanctions on Tehran. Germany, France and Great Britain are still trying to save the agreement. But Iran is now gradually withdrawing from the agreement – also because the EU has failed to deliver on its promise to mitigate the economic consequences of the US punitive measures.
