Iran Closer Than Ever To Nuclear Weapon, U.N. Report Suggests
By Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) – With much of the world in lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic, Iran rushed to increase its stockpiles of enriched uranium and has come closer than ever to develop a nuclear weapon, findings by the United Nations watchdog showed.
In an internal report obtained over the weekend, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned that the Islamic republic accumulated enriched uranium at nearly eight times the limit of a 2015 deal. The IAEA also expressed “serious concern that, for over four months, Iran has denied access to the Agency… to two locations.” It stressed that Iran remains in violation of a deal with world powers.
The agency noted that as of May 20, Iran’s total stockpile of low-enriched uranium amounted to 1,571.6 kilograms (1.73 tons), up from 1,020.9 kilograms (1.1 tons) on February 19.
However, Iran signed the nuclear deal in 2015 with the United States, Germany, France, Britain, China, and Russia pledging much fewer stockpiles. Under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, Iran is only to keep an inventory of 202.8 kilograms (447 pounds).
ISRAEL CONCERNED
The findings underscored concerns in Israel, which has long warned of Iran developing nuclear weapons. Tehran has also supported calls for Israel’s destruction.
Iran denies de eloping a nuclear weapon and claims it is enriching uranium for “peaceful” energy purposes.
However, the United States, a staunch ally of Israel, shares the Jewish state’s concerns. In 2018, U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out of the JCPOA, calling it the “worst deal ever”. Since abandoning the treaty, Washington reimposed sanctions to throttle Iran’s oil exports as part of a policy of “maximum pressure.”
Yet, over the weekend, Iran challenged Trump to return to the nuclear deal after Tehran released an American Navy veteran.
Iran freed Michael White on Thursday as part of a deal in which the United States allowed Iranian-American physician Majid Taheri to visit Iran. Trump said Thursday of White’s release on social networking site Twitter: “Thank you to Iran, it shows a deal is possible!”
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, addressing Trump, said in separate remarks on Twitter, “We achieved humanitarian swap despite your subordinates’ efforts.” He added: “We had a deal when you entered office. … Your advisors -most fired by now – made a dumb bet. Up to you to decide when you want to fix it.”
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