IAEA sees rapid progress in Iran's nuclear program
Iran's nuclear program is "moving forward very, very quickly" and is "increasing its ambitions and capabilities."
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, told reporters.
Iran's nuclear program has advanced significantly since 2015, Grossi told Reuters. According to the head of the IAEA, not a single country that does not have military developments enriches uranium to 60%, as the Iranian side does.
However, Grossi added that Tehran's gradual abandonment of its obligations under the nuclear agreement does not mean that Iran is developing nuclear weapons.
This conclusion was confirmed by the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Deputy President of the country Mohammad Eslami.
“Iran has the technical capabilities to create an atomic bomb, but such a program is not on the agenda,” Fars news agency quoted him as saying.
According to Eslami, “constructive cooperation has been established between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency, which operates without interruption.”
Earlier, Iranian authorities said they would keep IAEA cameras turned off until the 2015 nuclear agreement is renewed.
Iran told the IAEA it had removed equipment, including 27 cameras installed under a 2015 deal with world states, after the agency passed a resolution in June criticizing Tehran.
“We will not turn on the IAEA cameras until the other side returns to the nuclear agreement,” said the head of the Iranian atomic agency, Mohammad Eslami.
The 2015 nuclear pact imposed restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions. Then-President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement in 2018, again imposing tough economic sanctions on Tehran.
In response, Iran's ruling ayatollahs violated the pact's nuclear restrictions.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Monday accused IAEA chief Rafael Grossi of having “unprofessional, unfair and unconstructive views” on Tehran’s nuclear program, Reuters writes.
He also added that Tehran hopes it will be possible to return to the nuclear agreement soon if the United States shows good will.
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