A significant increase in Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium was recorded by a new International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report which has been met with skepticism in Tehran.
Calling on member states of the IAEA to “not issue hasty or politically-motivated statements” on Iran’s cooperation with the UN nuclear agency, Iran’s acting representative to the Vienna-based UN nuclear agency dismissed the IAEA report.
In response to the report released on the same day, Mohammad Reza Ghaebi expressed that the cooperation between the two sides will continue “despite differences on technical issues.”
Ghaebi did not elaborate on the matter.
He said Tehran has already notified the agency of its move to enrich uranium up to 60 percent purity, beyond the limit stipulated in the 2015 nuclear deal signed between Iran and the world powers.
The IAEA reports “deep concern” over the presence of nuclear material in “three undisclosed locations” in Iran with reference to quotes from the agency’s chief Rafael Grossi.
The report also indicates that Tehran continues to stonewall its investigation into the country’s undeclared nuclear activities, and that a lack of cooperation was observed on the detection of uranium particles at “three undeclared sites,” while accusing Iran of not responding to issues of “the use of nuclear material” at a fourth site.
Adding that such security procedures violate the nuclear agreement on the IAEA’s “privileges and immunities,” the report further says the agency inspectors were “physically harassed” upon entering Iranian nuclear facilities.
Ahead of the resumption of nuclear deal talks in Vienna, tensions are rising between Iran and the IAEA over monitoring of the country’s nuclear program.
