Iran has limited the UN nuclear watchdog’s ability to conduct proper checks on its nuclear activities, posing a significant challenge for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The agency’s chief, Rafael Grossi, is currently in Iran attempting to negotiate tougher checks on the country’s nuclear program.
The IAEA is facing increasing difficulty in monitoring Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program, especially amidst heightened tensions in the Middle East due to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Grossi has raised concerns about Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched to near-weapons-grade levels, enough to potentially make “several” nuclear bombs.
Despite Iran’s assurances of cooperation with the IAEA and adherence to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, there are lingering doubts about the transparency of its nuclear activities. Tehran’s failure to explain uranium traces found at undeclared sites and its restriction on top enrichment experts from the IAEA have further complicated the situation.
The landmark nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, was signed in 2015 to limit Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. However, the deal was derailed in 2018 when the US withdrew from it, leading to a ‘maximum pressure’ campaign on Iran.
As a result, Iran has since exceeded agreed-upon limits of enriched uranium and developed new centrifuges, moving further away from its JCPOA commitments. The ongoing challenges between Iran and the IAEA underscore the complex and delicate nature of nuclear diplomacy in the region.