U.N. Watchdog Agency Detects Nuclear Activity in Iran

Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said on Wednesday that suspicious activity has been detected around Iran’s bombed-out nuclear sites, although he said there was no sign that Iran could resume uranium enrichment any time soon. Iran’s uranium enrichment sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan were bombed by the United States in June, shortly after the IAEA censured Iran for violating its nuclear non-proliferation obligations. According to various assessments, including from the IAEA, and statements later made by Iranian officials, all three facilities were heavily damaged and rendered inoperable.

Iran’s existing stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium was not destroyed, however. The IAEA said last week it believes “the majority” of Iran’s stockpile is intact, and probably buried in the ruins of the three bombed facilities. “Will we get access to this uranium? And what will happen to it then? Will Iran want to keep it, will it reduce its enrichment levels again, or will Iran move this uranium abroad?” Grossi wondered last Friday.

The IAEA is supposed to be able to answer those questions, not just ask them, but Iran stopped cooperating after the IAEA censure and airstrikes by the U.S. and Israel. Grossi said on Wednesday that his agency is “inspecting in Iran” once again, but “not at every site that we should be doing it.” He said discussions with Iran to resume inspections at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan are still ongoing.

“We do not see anything that would give rise to the hypothesis of any substantive work going on there,” he said of Iran’s activity at the three sites“ These are big industrial sites where there is movement, there is activity going on and we are very quick to indicate that this does not imply that there is activity on enrichment,” he said. (Read More)