The Iranian regime’s nuclear program has been a subject of concern for the international community for many years. Recently, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran has increased its production of highly enriched uranium close to weapons grade.
According to the confidential report, Iran has enough enriched uranium to 60% purity, which, if further enriched, can be used to make three nuclear bombs. This revelation has sparked widespread condemnation from Western powers, who accuse Iran of violating international law.
Iran’s enrichment of uranium to 60% purity is a significant escalation of its nuclear program. The IAEA’s theoretical definition states that about 42 kg of uranium enriched up to 60% is an amount that cannot be ruled out for making a nuclear bomb.
After the slowdown in uranium enrichment, which began in June, Iran had been enriching uranium to 60% at a rate of about 3 kilograms per month. However, the IAEA confirmed that since the end of November 2023, the production rate of uranium enriched to 60% by Iran has increased to a total of about 9 kilograms per month.
Many diplomats believe that the slowdown in uranium enrichment was the result of secret negotiations between the United States and the regime that also led to the release of American prisoners from Iran earlier this year.
The Iranian regime has denied trying to obtain nuclear weapons and claims that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. However, the recent escalation in uranium enrichment has raised doubts about the regime’s intentions.
Western powers have accused Iran of developing and testing ballistic missiles, transferring hundreds of drones to Russia, and enriching uranium to an unprecedented level of 60%. They have declared that all these cases are violations of the law.
The United States, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement once again calling for the full and transparent cooperation of the authorities of the regime with the IAEA.
In this joint statement, they emphasized that Iran’s production of high-enriched uranium has no credible civilian justification, and the reported production at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant and the Experimental Fuel Enrichment Plant also carry proliferation-related risks.
These countries have urged the regime to immediately refrain from continuing the current path and to cooperate fully and transparently with the agency.
The signatory countries of this statement also emphasized that these decisions show the lack of goodwill of the authorities of the regime and show Tehran’s reckless behavior in a tense regional situation.
They have stated that they are still committed to advancing diplomatic solutions to prevent the regime from acquiring nuclear weapons.
However, with the recent resumption and acceleration of uranium enrichment, doubts have arisen about the effectiveness of diplomatic efforts and the regime’s true intentions.
Rafael Grossi, the Director-General of the IAEA, announced on Wednesday, November 22, by presenting a statement at the meeting of the Council of Governors, that the accumulation of enriched uranium in Iran continues.
He emphasized in that statement that he is worried about the implementation of the joint statement of March 4, 2023, which has been interrupted. He said that the way forward must include honest and cooperative implementation of the commitments they have agreed upon.
The recent escalation in Iran’s nuclear program has raised concerns that the regime is moving closer to developing nuclear weapons. The international community must take decisive action to prevent this from happening.
The International community must force the regime to comply with its international obligations and abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Failure to do so will have serious consequences for the region and the world, especially in the current situation where the Gaza war has worsened the fragile security conditions in the Middle East.
