The head of the UN nuclear watchdog told the BBC that Iran’s decision to begin producing significantly higher levels of enriched uranium was “very worrying”.
Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said Iran is increasing its stockpile of enriched uranium to 60%, just below the purity level needed for nuclear weapons.
Many in the region see this as Tehran’s response to military and diplomatic failures in Syria, Lebanon and Gaza in recent months.
Mr Grossi said it was “no secret” that some politicians in Iran have called for the development of nuclear weapons – but after holding talks in Tehran in recent weeks, he said it “seemed as that is not the path chosen” by Iran. current leadership.
Mr. Grossi spoke on the sidelines of the Manama Dialogue conference in Bahrain run by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies.
He warned Israel against attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities, saying the consequences would be “really very, very serious” given Tehran’s retaliation and the potential spread of radiation.
He also said it was “extremely worrying” that more and more countries were thinking about acquiring nuclear weapons and that public discussion about their use had become “normalised”.
In a report to IAEA governors on Friday, Mr. Grossi said his inspectors had confirmed Iran was adding partially enriched uranium to the floors of two centrifuges at the nuclear plant. Fordow is south of Tehran.
“Updated design information for the facility indicates that the impact of this change will be to significantly increase the production rate of enriched UF6 (uranium) by up to 60%,” the report said. They estimate the facility will produce 34kg (75lb) of 60% uranium per month compared with 4.7kg previously.
The IAEA has requested additional “safeguards” at Fordow “as a matter of urgency to enable the agency to provide timely and technically credible assurances that the facility is not subject to abuse.” to produce uranium at a higher enrichment level than Iran has declared, and that there has been no diversion of the declared nuclear material.”
Iran denies having a military nuclear program. But Mr Grossi told the BBC that its nuclear power facilities had increased over the past decade.
“They have a nuclear program that has grown and developed in every possible direction.
“The Iran of 2015 has nothing to do with the Iran of 2025. Iran is starting to produce 60% [uranium] at a much higher production level, which means they will have the necessary quantities – if they choose – to have nuclear devices in a much faster way. So we see an escalation in this issue, which is very worrying.”
During a visit to Tehran last month, Mr. Grossi said he had been assured by Iran’s leaders that they would limit production of enriched uranium to 60%.
Iran’s decision to increase output came after little progress was made in nuclear negotiations between European and Iranian officials last week.
Grossi said there are groups in Iran that have been “very vocal” calling on the country to “do its thing” on nuclear weapons.
“In my conversations with the government, that doesn’t seem to be the path chosen, but at times they see this as something they might need to reconsider. I hope not. I have tell them this would be an unfortunate choice.”
Israel has yet to launch a full-scale attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities – but the country’s ministers have publicly discussed the possibility.
Asked about the consequences of any such Israeli attack, Mr. Grossi said: “I don’t think this would go unanswered, militarily, so I think we need to avoid this.
“One should not forget that much of Iran’s nuclear program is underground and very well defended. Therefore, strong action against this program will require the deployment of force on a large scale.” wide.
“I just hope we don’t go there. I know the radioactive consequences if you attack a nuclear facility.”
Mr. Grossi also warned that the world’s non-proliferation regime is under strain as established nuclear powers “seem to be relying more on nuclear weapons or modernizing their arsenals.” their”.
As a result, other countries are talking more about purchasing nuclear weapons.
“There are countries that say: well, why don’t we? If we see that we have a world… with new conflicts, big problems [countries] are saying that maybe they can use the nuclear weapons they have, maybe we should think about our own security.”
