IAEA alarmed over Iran’s nuclear programme, demands 'clarification'

International Atomic Energy ncy (IAEA) has reportedly sounded alarm on Iran’s nuclear programme demanding clarification on failure to provide access to its sites. According to media reports, IAEA authorities h found uranium particles at a site which was t declared by Iranian authorities.

UN nuclear watchdog has been overseeing Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (2015), commonly kwn as Iran nuclear deal, and issuing quarterly updates to its member states. After Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned about a “secret atomic warehouse”, IAEA came under pubic pressure and inspected site in February 2019 and reportedly found traces of uranium that Iran has t explained till date.

In December 2019, IAEA Director-General Maria Grossi h said that nuclear watchdog will take “firm and fair” approach towards inspection of nuclear facilities in Iran. “An inspector is t a friend. He’s someone who comes and needs to ascertain facts without bias, without nda, in an objective and impartial way,” said Grossi.

Seeking access

IAEA is seeking access to sites which has been referred by Israel as “atomic archive” of information on Iran’s nuclear program. In vember 2019, Iran’s nuclear program he Ali Akbar Salehi declared that Tehran h been producing more low-enriched uranium on a daily basis after it restarted an underground lab in Fordow.

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Salehi, who hes Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), h said that Iran was producing at least 5.5 kilograms of low-enriched uranium, which is almost 12 times what country h been producing before underground lab started. Iran h claimed that its nuclear program was for peaceful purposes as it has been facing severe sanctions on ecomic front after US President Donald Trump pulled out of JCPoA.

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Iran’s Supreme Leer h also denied any intention to develop nuclear weapons, however, situation worsened after killing of ir top military commander Qassem Soleimani in a drone attack by US troops. In aftermath of Soleimani’s killing, Iran exited 2015 nuclear deal and anunced to speed up its uranium enrichment programme.

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(With inputs from ncies)