Iran increasing nuclear capacity: IAEA – 2024-06-17 09:50:02

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has claimed that Iran is increasing its nuclear capabilities. In a statement on Thursday (June 13), the agency said Tehran was stockpiling more cascades at the Natanz and Fordow nuclear plants. IAEA claims to have learned the matter from Tehran.

The equipment used in uranium enrichment, including the centrifuge, is collectively called a cascade. But a diplomatic source said Iran is not doing as much as it sounds about enriching uranium. Tehran is doing moderate activity in uranium enrichment.

Last week, the UK, France and Germany tabled a resolution to the IAEA’s board of governors claiming Iran was not cooperating with enough information about its nuclear activities. However, China and Russia opposed this proposal.

The IAEA Board of Governors has representatives from 35 countries. They said that such a proposal was raised for the first time after November 2022. Iran has criticized this proposal saying that the proposal is not logical at all. And it is clear that the proposal has been brought forward purposefully.

The French news agency AFP said the purpose of raising such a symbolic proposal is to increase diplomatic pressure on Iran. At one point in time, the UN Security Council will have the opportunity to raise the proposal.

Such proposals have been passed by the IAEA Board of Governors before. Then it appeared that Iran had stepped up its uranium enrichment program by removing surveillance cameras and other equipment from its nuclear facilities.

Meanwhile, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that one thing is clear from the IAEA report that Iran is increasing its nuclear program and has no peaceful intentions.

Diplomats, meanwhile, did not say exactly how many or what types of centrifuges Iran is adding or to what extent. One diplomat, however, said Iran would not increase production to 60 percent enriched uranium right away. Uranium is enriched or enriched to 90 percent, making it suitable for use in weapons.

Sources: AFP, Voice of America

SAH