IAEA chief says Iran agreed to cap 60% uranium stockpile
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi says that Iran has agreed to freeze its uranium stockpile enriched to 60% following his request during recent talks in Tehran.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi says that Iran has agreed to freeze its uranium stockpile enriched to 60% following his request during recent talks in Tehran.
"I made a request for Iran to stop increasing the stockpile of 60%, and this was accepted," Grossi said in his report to the agency's Board of Governors in Vienna on Wednesday.
The IAEA chief said the agreement to freeze the 60% uranium stockpile does not imply an immediate resolution to broader concerns about Iran’s nuclear activities, however.
The agency remains unable to verify certain aspects of Iran’s program due to limited access following Tehran's cessation of its JCPOA-related commitments in early 2021.
Citing reports to the body's member states, Reuters reported that Iran has offered to cap its stock of near weapons grade nuclear fuel on condition that no censure resolution will be issued at a Wednesday meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog.
The confidential reports by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) say Tehran has made preparations to cap the stockpile at around 185 kg (407 lbs). Iran also agreed to consider accepting the appointment of four additional experienced IAEA inspectors after having banned around one third, last year.
Diplomats informed Reuters that Western powers are advocating for a censure resolution at the IAEA Board of Governors, despite Iran's reported offer. Similarly, The Wall Street Journal cited sources stating that France, Britain, and Germany (the E3) plan to proceed with the resolution during Wednesday's meeting.
In his latest report to the Board of Directors, the Director General of the IAEA said Iran's nuclear program has continued to grow, in spite of global sanctions. “Following my last report, Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched up to 20% and up to 60% U-235 continued to increase," he said.
The report also states that the IAEA's findings regarding particles of uranium of human origin at undeclared locations in Iran remain inconsistent, and the agency requires information about the current whereabouts of the nuclear materials or related contaminated equipment.
Grossi also addressed the destruction of a covert nuclear research facility of the Islamic Republic in Parchin following an Israeli attack, stating that the IAEA does not consider this site a nuclear facility, and there is no indication of nuclear material being present there.
Grossi visited Iran’s Fordow and Natanz enrichment facilities during his recent trip.
Referring to the long and turbulent process of monitoring Iran's nuclear program, he said "It takes effort, determination, and patience."
"This is not something that will be solved overnight," Grossi added.
While exchanges between Iran and the IAEA on verification measures are ongoing, Grossi acknowledged the need for "more information from Iran" to address the concerns comprehensively.
The foreign ministry's legal deputy was quoted by local media as saying, "We have clearly stated in advance that if the resolution is passed, we will respond decisively and immediately. The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran is prepared to implement the decision in the very hour the resolution is approved."
The United States, Germany, France and Britain are adamant to pursue a censure resolution at the quarterly meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency for Tehran's lack of cooperation with the UN watchdog and other violations.
Foreign ministry's Kazem Gharibabadi blamed the sponsors of the resolution for disregarding Iran's recent gesture of promising to stop high-level uranium enrichment. "This move by Iran is, in fact, a response to the unconstructive approach of these few countries and their disregard for Iran's goodwill."
The Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday called the foreign ministers of Brazil, South Africa, Bangladesh, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Pakistan - all on the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - to warn against the adoption of the resolution put forward by Western powers.
"The push by France, Britain and Germany for a resolution against Iran would only weaken and disrupt the interactional processes between Iran and the Agency," Araghchi said, according to media reports in Iran.
He called on the member states voting on the resolution to block it.
Previous voting patterns suggest that proposals backed by the main Western countries easily pass. A successful resolution could pave the way for the three European powers to trigger a "snapback mechanism" to restore UN sanctions imposed on Iran before the 2015 nuclear deal.
The planned censure is due to be approved despite Tehran offering to cap its highly-enriched uranium stock.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi says that Iran has agreed to freeze its uranium stockpile enriched to 60% following his request during recent talks in Tehran.
"I made a request for Iran to stop increasing the stockpile of 60%, and this was accepted," Grossi said in his report to the agency's Board of Governors in Vienna on Wednesday. The freeze would not resolve broader issues about Iran’s nuclear activities, he added.
Iran began enriching uranium up to 60% after a 2015 international deal unraveled when Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the agreement.
“The US concerns have been all along about Iran engaging in enriching uranium to 60%. We're very concerned about it,” US alternative ambassador to the United Nations Robert Wood told Iran International on Wednesday. “I know the IAEA Board is going to be looking at this issue. We're reviewing the report of IAEA Director-General."
The IAEA’s latest confidential report confirms that Iran has made preparations to cap its stockpile at around 185 kg, according to Reuters. Iran also agreed to consider accepting the appointment of four additional experienced IAEA inspectors after having banned around one third last year.
While US envoy Amos Hochstein suggested a deal is within reach during his trip to Lebanon on Tuesday, the situation on the ground appears far more bleak.
“The army doesn’t even have money to put fuel in the patrol trucks,” said a senior Lebanese politician opposing Hezbollah. He spoke to Iran International on condition of anonymity after successive death threats from the group the US and others deem 'terrorist'.
“UNIFIL has no power militarily and it depends on the LAF [Lebanese Armed Forces], but mostly, the LAF isn’t even able to patrol with UNIFIL, which is a huge reason the latest conflict has escalated to this degree," he told Iran International.
UN peacekeeping forces, UNIFIL, were stationed around southern Lebanon since 2006 under UN Resolution 1701 after the second Lebanon war between Hezbollah and Israel.
Though first created in 1978, following the crisis of 2006 crisis, the UN Security Council strengthened the mandate of UNIFIL, allowing them to "monitor the cessation of hostilities; accompany and support the Lebanese armed forces as they deploy throughout the south of Lebanon; and extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons".
However, the politician, who has held senior government positions, warned that without international funding and binding agreements, the LAF risks remaining a “toothless tiger,” as evidenced in recent years.
“The Lebanese economy is in collapse and the army has been one of the biggest losers, which of course, impacts the country’s security at the hands of Hezbollah which has infiltrated every institution and border areas," he said.
Though Israel has severely weakened Hezbollah since it stepped up its offensive in September, it has a barrage of firepower that continues to see dozens of projectiles fired into Israel daily.
In September, targeted air strikes saw Israel take out swathes of the group’s leadership as high as long-time leader Hassan Nasrallah, while a two-day operation saw around 1,500 Hezbollah operatives taken out of action when pagers and walkie-talkies simultaneously exploded.
UN Resolution 1701 aimed to push Hezbollah north and disarm all armed groups in a designated area of southern Lebanon. However, this was never fully implemented, with both Hezbollah and Israel accused of violating the agreement. Additionally, other armed groups, such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad, continued to operate in the region.
Consisting of around 80,000 troops, the LAF has no air force and is not strong enough to take on either Hezbollah or an Israeli onslaught, its role being mostly limited to supporting civilians.
Andrew Fox, a former British paratrooper and fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, said the weakness of the LAF will be a sticking point for any peace moving forward.
Speaking to Iran International he said: "A key issue with this proposed peace deal is the lack of preparation and capability of the Lebanese Army. Even if not sympathetic to Hezbollah, they are far less well armed and motivated."
With Hezbollah still stronger and harder to control, the LAF will need to be ready for a potential re-entry of the group into southern Lebanon if a deal really forces a retreat to north of the Litani River as was proposed previously.
"This will present them with a real issue," added Fox. "If the LAF attempt to police the ceasefire and are defeated in combat, where does this leave the peace deal? It is hard to see how anything will be enforced if the IDF does not have the oversight to be able to step back in and interdict Hezbollah, should they try to reinfiltrate the South."
If a ceasefire is put into place, the Lebanese army will be expected to deploy thousands of troops south in order to maintain peace. However, with Hezbollah still significantly more powerful and better funded by its patron, Iran, the process will not be easy.
"The Lebanese army is in a situation that is sensitive and difficult. It cannot practice normal missions like the armies of other countries because there is another military force in the country," retired Lebanese brigadier general Hassan Jouni told Reuters, referring to Hezbollah.
On Tuesday, LAF chief, General Joseph Aoun, presented proposals for the first phase of a deployment in the south, sharing the army’s needs in terms of armament, logistical and financial support.
In August, the Lebanese government, which is divided on sectarian lines amid years of crisis, issued “initial approval” for Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s proposal to recruit 1,500 new troops for the army, part of a plan prepared by the army to recruit 6,000 soldiers before developing a plan for its deployment.
Ultimately, the government will have to approve the exact nature of the deployment, but in the end, the question remains as to whether Hezbollah will respect its authority.
Hezbollah affiliated Al-Akhbar said there were still significant “knots” in the negotiations. Quoting informed sources, it said problems remained around borders, which it said was “the knot of knots”.
