The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced on Thursday that Iran is continuing to expand its nuclear capabilities, just a week after the agency’s board of governors adopted a resolution criticizing Tehran’s lack of cooperation.
This development has heightened concerns among Western powers about Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Iran Expands Enrichment Facilities
The IAEA informed its members that Iran has installed additional cascades in its enrichment facilities at Natanz and Fordow.
While a diplomatic source described this development as “moderate,” it nonetheless raises questions about Iran’s intentions.
The United States has called on Iran to cooperate with the IAEA without delay. The State Department issued a statement warning that Washington “will respond” to any escalation in Iran’s nuclear program.
Resolution Condemns Iran’s Lack of Cooperation
The resolution, presented by Britain, France, and Germany and opposed by China and Russia, was the first of its kind since November 2022.
It highlights the impasse over Iran’s escalating nuclear activities and Western concerns that Tehran may be seeking to develop a nuclear weapon, a claim Iran denies.
While symbolic at this stage, the censure motion aims to increase diplomatic pressure on Iran, with the possibility of referring the matter to the United Nations Security Council. Similar resolutions in the past have prompted Iran to retaliate by removing surveillance cameras and other equipment from its nuclear facilities and intensifying uranium enrichment activities.
Iran’s Enrichment Activities Raise Red Flags
The IAEA reports that Iran is the only non-nuclear-weapon state enriching uranium to the high level of 60%, nearing weapons-grade, while continuing to accumulate significant uranium stockpiles. The agency warns that Iran has substantially accelerated its nuclear program and now possesses enough material to produce several atomic bombs.
Breakdown of the 2015 Nuclear Deal
Iran has gradually breached the commitments it made under the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. This landmark agreement offered Iran relief from Western sanctions in exchange for limitations on its atomic program, but it collapsed after the unilateral withdrawal of the United States under President Donald Trump in 2018.
The ongoing expansion of Iran’s nuclear program and its lack of cooperation with the IAEA continue to raise concerns about the country’s nuclear ambitions and the potential for further escalation in the region.