Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON DC: A top US diplomat said on Wednesday that President Joe Biden’s administration was “very, very” worried about Iran’s progress towards acquiring weapons-grade nuclear uranium.
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the head of the American delegation to the UN, told lawmakers, “I know that we’re looking at how we respond. It is very, very disturbing.”
According to a recent confidential report from the International Atomic Energy Agency that Greenfield stated she had seen, UN nuclear watchdogs have discovered uranium enriched to 83.7%.
Because of the discovery, some on Capitol Hill questioned if Biden would act quickly enough to stop Tehran’s nuclear aspirations. Given Tehran’s prior roadblocks to UN and IAEA nuclear inspections, how can we be certain Iran isn’t purposefully stepping up its attempts to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons?
Republican Hal Rogers (R-KY), the longest-serving member of the House, asked the ambassador. “We’ve run out of time to chat. Act now, please.” Throughout the conversation, the UN envoy tried to allay Rogers’ worries without mentioning a precise plan or timeline. She said I wouldn’t predict when or how the administration will react, but I am confident it is ready.
Republicans and Democrats, and American allies in the Middle East and Europe have differed in their positions on how the United States should respond to Iran’s nuclear program.
Democrats and Europeans hailed Obama’s 2015 Iran nuclear deal as a successful method of limiting the country’s weapons development. Conservatives and politicians, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, criticized the agreement enabling Iran to continue its uranium enrichment program.
Despite his reluctance to join the trans-Atlantic allies in arming Ukraine, Netanyahu has the chance to persuade US and European leaders to take a more aggressive stance towards Tehran due to Iran’s military assistance for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“Israel’s issue with Iran is not unique. I’m not simply referring to the nuclear threat either, “Major General Oded Basiuk of Israel stated on Wednesday. Iran attempted to attack ships in the Arabian Sea twice in the past month, but both failed. Iran utilized drones, also used in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Such combative behaviour has assisted in putting the Iran nuclear deal, which the United States pulled out of in 2018 under Donald Trump, up for negotiation. Notwithstanding the development of Tehran’s nuclear programme in recent years, they still hold onto the goal of eventually reinstating the accord.
Colin Kahl, Defense Department Undersecretary, told House lawmakers on Tuesday that Iran would now need only twelve days to develop enough fissile material for one bomb as opposed to twelve months in 2018.
“So, I think there is still the belief that diplomatic resolution of this matter and reinstating restrictions on their nuclear program are preferable to the alternative possibilities.” According to Rogers, Iranian leaders are now too near to obtaining nuclear weapons for American policymakers to have faith in diplomatic solutions. He countered, “They’re inches away from having the bomb. Rogers spoke to Thomas-Greenfield, “it’s time.
Thomas-Greenfield reaffirmed Biden’s promise to prevent the dictatorship from obtaining nuclear weapons. She added that we still watch what they are doing regarding nuclear weapons. “I reiterate that the president has made it plain that we will not remain silent while they acquire nuclear capability,”
