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The E3 “urge[d] Iran to immediately stop and reverse its nuclear escalation, and allow for complete transparency with the IAEA” after the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) quarterly report on Iran, published 31 May, revealed that Iran has the capacity to produce a nuclear weapon in 12 days.
An E3 statement delivered at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting this week, on the JCPOA, expressed that “Iran is, undoubtedly and unabatedly, on a path of significant nuclear escalation”, cautioning “its activities are a clear threat to regional and global security”.
The statement also disclosed that “Iran’s total enriched uranium stockpile is now more than 21 times the JCPOA limit”, highlighting “significant nuclear escalation”. The IAEA report warns that Iran can produce enough weapon-grade enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon in 12 days, using only one-third of its current stock of 60% enriched uranium.
The remainder of Iran’s existing stock can produce an additional four nuclear weapons within a month, and a total of eight in a three-month period. Iran has increased its total operating enrichment capability to approximately 19,100 separative work units (SWU) per year, beyond Iran’s civilian needs, and without progressing on a nuclear-power plant.
The report expresses concern over Iran’s lack of cooperation and secrecy towards its nuclear programme. “For two and a quarter years Iran has not provided updated declarations and the Agency has not been able to conduct any complementary access under the Additional Protocol to any sites and locations in Iran”, says the report. Required video surveillance footage has also failed to be submitted by Iran.
