IRAN HAS dramatically accelerated its production of enriched uranium in recent months while refusing to co-operate with an investigation of evidence that it may have worked on designing a bomb, a confidential report by the UN nuclear watchdog says.
In the report to member states, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found Iran had tripled its production rate of uranium enriched to the level of 20 per cent over the past three months.
Much of the increase in production has taken place at an underground site known as Fordow, and the report’s findings will further increase the international pressure on Iran at a time of already-high tensions.
Tehran says it needs the material for its research reactor, which produces medical isotopes, but western governments argue that its stock of 20 per cent uranium brings it significantly closer to weapons-grade fissile material.
The IAEA inspectors also found that Iran had stepped up the installation of centrifuges at its main uranium enrichment plant in Natanz. Over the past three months, 2,600 new centrifuges have been brought into operation, spinning uranium gas.
The report found that Iran has produced nearly 5½ metric tonnes of low-enriched uranium – enriched to about 3.5 per cent – and about 109kg of uranium enriched to 20 per cent. If enriched further, to more than 90 per cent purity, the total stockpile would be more than enough to make four nuclear warheads.
Iran says it has no intention of making weapons, and the report may not be enough for western countries, led by the US, the UK and France, to persuade Russia and China to take part in an escalation of sanctions.
The Russian prime minister, Vladimir Putin, said the focus on the nuclear programme was a cover for western attempts to oust the clerical regime in Tehran.
“I think that, under the appearance of a struggle to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons through the addition of another potential member of the nuclear club, Iran, attempts of a different kind are being made and other aims are being set – to change the regime,” he said.
The report also criticised Iran for not co-operating with investigations into its nuclear programme, not allowing inspectors to visit a suspect nuclear site, and refusing to answer questions about a former Soviet nuclear weapons scientist who provided technical advice.
The report concluded that because of Tehran’s lack of co-operation “the agency is unable to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran, and therefore to conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities”.
The IAEA also said it had not received a satisfactory explanation of how 20kg of uranium metal had gone missing from an Iranian research laboratory.
Inspectors noticed its absence during an audit last August. When they tried to investigate in recent weeks, “Iran indicated that it no longer possessed relevant documentation and that the personnel involved were no longer available”, the report said.
Some western government analysts believe the missing uranium metal could have been used to test the explosive components of a nuclear warhead.
The IAEA member states will consider the report at a board meeting beginning on March 5th, where there could be calls for Iran to be referred to the UN security council for further sanctions.
Until now, Russia and China have blocked such a move, but both had urged Iran to co-operate with the IAEA missions.
It is not clear which way they will vote at the meeting.
– (Guardian service)