UN Atomic Energy Agency officials found the remains of radioactive materials in facilities previously banned from inspectors • Evidence raises concerns that sites used Tehran's nuclear program
Inspectors of the Atomic Energy Agency in Iran // Photo: AP
Evidence found at various sites in Iran proves that Iran has hidden banned nuclear activity from the UN Atomic Energy Agency, the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal revealed today (Saturday).
The paper quotes senior diplomats briefed by the organization's staff claiming that remnants of radioactive material found by the agency's inspectors were found at several sites to which inspectors' access was restricted for seven months.
According to the suspicion, the Iranians took advantage of the time they prevented the inspectors from accessing the facilities in order to transfer the nuclear activity carried out there from them.
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The senior officials also claimed to the newspaper that the findings raise concerns about military nuclear activity at the sites in question.
Sources said it was unclear whether military nuclear activity was new or old but the mere denial of access to inspectors raised suspicions that Iran had indeed breached its commitments to close the sites.
The diplomats claimed that the organization had already submitted a query to Iran regarding the findings and that it intended to update the views of the countries concerned, including the countries that signed the nuclear agreement with Iran, and presented the findings to them.
A blatant violation of the nuclear agreement
An internal document, circulated this week to members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), confirms that the Islamic Republic is moving toward the development of its nuclear venture - and operates advanced centrifuges, in violation of an agreement it signed with the powers in 2015.
The internal document, dated "February 1, 2021", was distributed among 35 members of the "Governors' Committee" of the international organization and reached the "Israel Today" system exclusively.
"In accordance with Security Council Resolution 2231, as previously reported on December 2, 2020, Iran informed the Agency that for its enrichment program in Natanz, it was attempting to install three second-generation centrifuge waterfalls."
The document further states that "from this date until today, Iran has completed the installation of one of the three waterfalls, which include 174 second-generation centrifuges. As of January 30, 2021, Iran began feeding the same centrifuge in six-fluorine uranium, as the agency was able to approve. To date, it operates 5,060 first-generation centrifuges (IR-1) and 348 second-generation centrifuges (IR-2m), and enriches uranium to a level of 4.5 percent. "
The report comes amid talks between the United States and its allies in an effort to reach a new nuclear deal with Iran.
However, the document serves as further proof that the Islamic Republic is blatantly violating the agreement it signed.
Iran announced last week that it had begun enriching uranium in a Natanz reactor, but external evidence is now being obtained.
