Nuclear watchdog: Iran is enriching uranium at secret site

The IAEA reported that 8,808 centrifuges were functioning inside Natanz,
compared with 6,208 on its last visit, although the report cautioned that
not all of the machines may have been working. Iran’s experts had also
installed the casings for another 6,177 centrifuges.

Six UN resolutions say that Iran should stop enriching uranium, a highly
sensitive process that could be used to make the essential material for a
nuclear weapon.

This sudden rise in the number of operational centrifuges shows that, on the
contrary, Iran is stepping up its enrichment capacity.

However, the IAEA also reported that all of the machines in the main
enrichment halls of both Natanz and Fordow were older IR-1 models,
contradicting claims by Iranian officials, including President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad, that the country’s experts were now operating large numbers of
more advanced models.

The report voiced disappointment about the last official visit by inspectors
to Iran, noting that they were denied access to a key location and that no
agreement had been reached on how to resolve any of the outstanding issues.

“As Iran is not providing the necessary co-operation, including by not
implementing its additional protocol, the agency is unable to provide
credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and
activities,” said the report.

Consequently, the IAEA was unable to “conclude that all nuclear material in
Iran is in peaceful activities.” Instead, the IAEA “continues to have
serious concerns regarding possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear
programme.”

Yukiya Amano, head of the IAEA, urged Iran to “address the agency’s serious
concerns” and allow inspectors to visit Parchin.

However, Vladimir Putin, the Russian prime minister, said that Western concern
about Iran’s nuclear ambitions was a cover for the real objective of
toppling the Tehran regime.

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