VIENNA, Austria: Iran is further expanding its nuclear capacities, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported on Thursday. This announcement comes one week after the IAEA’s board of governors passed a resolution criticizing Tehran’s lack of cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.
Iran is adding more cascades to its enrichment facilities in Natanz and Fordow, the IAEA has notified its members. Centrifuges used in uranium enrichment are called cascades. Although a diplomatic source classified the development as “moderate,” it highlights Tehran’s persistent progress with its nuclear program.
The resolution, brought by Britain, France, and Germany and opposed by China and Russia, was the first of its kind since November 2022. It aims to increase diplomatic pressure on Iran amid concerns that Tehran may be seeking to develop a nuclear weapon, a claim Iran denies. While symbolic, the motion could potentially lead to the issue being referred to the UN Security Council.
In response to similar resolutions in the past, Tehran has retaliated by removing surveillance cameras and other equipment from its nuclear facilities and increasing its uranium enrichment activities. The US State Department emphasized the urgency of Iran’s cooperation with the IAEA to fully implement its legally binding safeguards obligations.
Iran remains the only non-nuclear weapon state to enrich uranium to 60 percent, just short of weapons-grade, while amassing large uranium stockpiles. The IAEA has stated that Tehran’s actions have no credible peaceful purpose, raising concerns about the potential for nuclear weapons development.
The Islamic Republic has gradually deviated from its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. This landmark agreement provided Iran with relief from Western sanctions in exchange for curbs on its atomic program. However, the deal fell apart after the United States’ unilateral withdrawal in 2018 under then-president Donald Trump. Efforts to revive the deal have so far failed.
As tensions rise, the international community continues to monitor Iran’s nuclear activities closely, with the IAEA playing a crucial role in assessing and reporting on developments. The situation remains a significant point of contention in international relations, particularly between Iran and Western powers.
