IRIA News

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The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report claims that Iran intends to install over 6,000 additional uranium-enriching centrifuges at its enrichment plants and activate more existing centrifuges. The development has intensified the already heightened tensions between Iran and Western powers over Tehran’s nuclear activities.

Iran has informed the IAEA that it plans to expand its uranium enrichment program significantly. The IAEA report outlines Iran’s response to a recent resolution passed by the agency’s 35-nation Board of Governors, a resolution spearheaded by Britain, France, Germany, and the United States.

Iran’s plans include the installation of 32 additional cascades, clusters of centrifuges, at its enrichment facilities, with some cascades consisting of over 160 machines each. Notably, a massive cascade of up to 1,152 advanced IR-6 centrifuges, which have higher enrichment capabilities, is also in the works.

These measures are part of Iran’s broader strategy to scale up its uranium enrichment capacity. This move could allow Iran to enrich uranium more quickly, which has raised concerns among Western nations about the potential for nuclear proliferation.

While Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, Western powers argue that there is no civilian justification for enriching uranium to the 60% purity level it currently achieves, a level close to the 90% required for weapons-grade material.

Interestingly, the IAEA report mentions that the new centrifuges will initially produce uranium enriched to only 5% purity. This is significantly lower than the current 60% enrichment level. Some analysts interpret this as a possible attempt by Iran to seek common ground with European nations. However, they also caution that enrichment levels can be easily adjusted later, leaving the door open for escalation.

One of Iran’s key enrichment sites, Fordow, has been a particular focus of the IAEA. The facility is located deep within a mountain and it is considered highly secure and is currently enriching uranium to 60% purity. The report noted Iran’s plans to activate eight newly installed IR-6 cascades at Fordow, a move that would further enhance the site’s capacity.

Diplomatic rebuff

Ahead of last week’s IAEA board meeting, Iran offered to cap its stockpile of 60%-enriched uranium if the board refrained from passing a resolution against it. Despite this, the resolution was adopted, with the board calling on Iran to improve its cooperation with the agency.

While the IAEA acknowledged that Iran had slowed its enrichment at the 60% level, a step the agency described as “a concrete step in the right direction”, the expansion of its centrifuge program sends a different signal.

Growing capacity at Natanz

The Natanz facility, another critical component of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, is also undergoing significant expansion. The report reveals that Iran has completed installing 18 cascades of IR-2m centrifuges in its underground Fuel Enrichment Plant at Natanz. Although these cascades have not yet been fed with uranium, Iran plans to activate them soon.

Additionally, Iran has informed the IAEA of its intention to install 18 more cascades of IR-4 centrifuges at Natanz, each comprising 166 machines. Plans for a massive cascade of up to 1,152 IR-6 centrifuges at the facility’s pilot plant further highlight the scale of Iran’s enrichment ambitions.

Global security implications

The expansion of Iran’s uranium enrichment program raises significant geopolitical concerns. Enriched uranium is a dual-use material, capable of fueling both civilian nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons. The international community, particularly Western powers, remains skeptical of Iran’s intentions, arguing that its enrichment activities far exceed the requirements of a civilian nuclear program.

The IAEA has also expressed concerns about the implications for its monitoring activities. “The Agency has determined and shared with Iran the changes required to the intensity of its inspection activities at FFEP (Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant) following the commissioning of the cascades,” the report states, highlighting the increased challenges of verifying Iran’s compliance with international standards.

Iran’s latest moves represent a complex blend of defiance and diplomacy. While its decision to produce uranium at lower enrichment levels may be viewed as a conciliatory gesture, the sheer scale of its planned enrichment capacity raises alarms about potential nuclear proliferation risks. As the international community watches closely, the question remains whether diplomacy can de-escalate the situation or if the world is inching closer to another nuclear standoff.