IAEA chief warns Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles, inspector limits raise serious concerns

Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, warned that although there is no evidence Iran is building a nuclear bomb, its large stockpiles of enriched uranium and restrictions on inspector access pose serious concerns.

Writing on X on Wednesday, March 4, Grossi said the agency can only guarantee that Iran’s nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful if Tehran resumes full cooperation with inspectors and resolves outstanding monitoring and verification issues.

He stressed that until such cooperation is restored, the IAEA will not be in a position to provide credible assurance about the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear activities.

Grossi has previously raised concerns in official reports about the level of Iran’s uranium enrichment and limitations placed on inspectors, issues that have heightened alarm among Western countries and the agency.

Under the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Iran agreed to limit enrichment levels and allow extensive inspections in exchange for sanctions relief, but the agreement has since unraveled.

Since the United States withdrew from the deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions, Iran has gradually reduced its compliance, expanding enrichment activities and curbing certain monitoring measures.

Diplomatic efforts to revive oversight mechanisms have faced repeated setbacks, leaving the IAEA reliant on limited access and partial data to assess Iran’s nuclear programme.

Grossi said restoring full transparency and cooperation remains essential to reducing tensions and ensuring that concerns over Iran’s nuclear activities do not further escalate regional and international instability.

The post IAEA chief warns Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles, inspector limits raise serious concerns appeared first on Khaama Press.