Uranium Traces Found in Iran Coinciding with Grossi’s Tehran Visit
Cornel Feruta, the Acting Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, emphasized during meetings with Iranian officials that the agency’s mandate is verification and its approach is independent. Simultaneously, Reuters reported the discovery of uranium in a site in Iran.
On Sunday, September 8, Cornel Feruta, the Acting Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, visited Tehran where he met with Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, and Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s Foreign Minister. This visit coincides with Iran’s third step in reducing its JCPOA commitments.
During his meeting with Ali Akbar Salehi, Feruta stated that the agency wishes to continue cooperation with Iran. He emphasized the agency’s role in verifying JCPOA implementation while stressing its impartiality. Following this meeting, the International Atomic Energy Agency released a statement that read:
“The discussions covered the IAEA’s activities in Iran, with emphasis on continued interactions between the Agency and Iran in the implementation of the NPT and the Additional Protocol. The Acting Director General stressed that full and timely cooperation with Iran is essential for these interactions. Feruta also stated that safeguards activities are conducted in an impartial, independent, reasonable manner and in accordance with safeguards procedures.”
Following this meeting, Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, said at a press conference that the JCPOA “was supposed to be a two-way street and in these circumstances the road is one-way.” He added that “Iran makes appropriate decisions at appropriate times.”
Discovery of Uranium at a Site in Iran
Concurrent with this meeting, Reuters reported, citing unnamed diplomats, that samples taken by international inspectors from a site in Iran indicate that uranium was present at that location. The Israeli Prime Minister had said a year earlier that this site was a “secret nuclear warehouse.” Benjamin Netanyahu stated in September 2018 that Iran had removed 15 kilograms of radioactive material from facilities in August.
Based on this claim, Iran allegedly dispersed these materials across different areas in Tehran to conceal them. The Israeli Prime Minister had mentioned “Turquzabad” on the outskirts of Tehran.
One of the aforementioned diplomats told Reuters that the uranium found was not enriched. According to the report, Iran has not yet provided an explanation for the presence of uranium traces at this location. The discovery of uranium traces occurred before inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency visited the site. Reuters reported that the Agency had been monitoring the site since April and had sent samples from it.
Prior to the Acting Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s visit to Iran, John Bolton, the U.S. President’s National Security Advisor, wrote on Twitter that the United States and other members of the IAEA Board of Governors “eagerly await the complete report of this visit.” Referring to “Iran’s undisclosed activities in the nuclear field,” he said the reason for the IAEA’s Acting Director General’s visit was information the Agency had provided to the Board of Governors.
During his visit, the Acting Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency also met with Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s Foreign Minister. According to IRNA, Iran’s Foreign Minister emphasized during this meeting “the necessity of adhering to professional standards, maintaining confidentiality, and carrying out the Agency’s duties in an impartial manner.”
From Saturday, September 7, Iran launched the third phase of reducing its JCPOA commitments. Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, stated in this regard: “Iran has begun cascading the IR-6 machines in chains of 20 units as of yesterday, and will carry out chains of 30 units in the next phase.”
Nevertheless, the Islamic Republic announced that there will be no changes to inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Kamalvandi also stated that Feruta’s visit takes place “as previously scheduled and invited.”
Source: DW
