Un Nuclear Watchdog Expresses Frustration Over Iran's Lack Of Progress

In a recent development, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), expressed its deep disappointment regarding the lack of progress made by Iran on several critical issues. The agency raised concerns about Iran's failure to reinstall monitoring cameras for its nuclear program and provide explanations for uranium traces. While Iran has slowed its uranium production, particularly enriched to nearly 60 percent, it remains dangerously close to bomb-grade levels. Furthermore, the IAEA noted a decrease in Iran's overall enriched uranium stockpile due to technical issues, but it still surpasses the limits established in the 2015 nuclear accord. This revelation comes ahead of a crucial meeting of the IAEA board of governors, where Iran's compliance with the agency's demands will be reviewed. The IAEA underscored that Iran had made no substantial headway in reinstalling monitoring equipment initially established under the 2015 nuclear deal, equipment that Iran later removed. Iran's promise to reactivate surveillance devices, disconnected in June 2022 amidst deteriorating relations with Western nations, remains unfulfilled. The IAEA also expressed frustration over its inability to access data recorded by its surveillance cameras since February 2021, emphasizing the urgency of Iran granting access to all existing data. In addressing Iran's failure to clarify undeclared nuclear material discovered in Turquzabad and Varamin, the IAEA called upon Iran to collaborate earnestly and consistently to fulfill its commitments. This ongoing issue has strained relations between the two parties. In a separate report, the IAEA revealed that Iran's total stockpile of enriched uranium had decreased since May but still exceeded the 2015 accord's limits by a significant margin. Notably, Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched to approximately 60 percent had increased since May, raising concerns about its nuclear ambitions. The slowed growth of Iran's stockpile of near bomb-grade uranium could be attributed to either political or technical decisions, as explained by a senior diplomat. The production rate has diminished substantially compared to previous months. Iran also possesses a considerable amount of uranium enriched up to 20 percent, further complicating the nuclear landscape. The 2015 nuclear deal, designed to curb Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, began unraveling in 2018 when the United States unilaterally withdrew and reimposed sanctions. Efforts to revive the agreement, including bringing the U.S. back into the deal and scaling back Iran's nuclear activities, have remained fruitless, with European-led talks on hold since 2022. While tensions between Tehran and Washington temporarily eased with an agreement for Iran to release American prisoners in exchange for frozen Iranian funds, the delicate deal does not include a return to the nuclear agreement, making the 2024 U.S. presidential election a critical factor in the future of Iran's nuclear program.