Iran signals willingness to halt stockpile expansion, Grossi says

Wednesday, 20 November 2024

Grossi's address to the board comes days after he travelled to Iran for high-level meetings with the Iranian government and technical discussions on aspects related to the Joint Statement agreed with Iran in March 2023. As well as meetings with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Vice‑President and President of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami and other senior Iranian officials, Grossi's visit to Tehran included trips to the Fordow and Natanz nuclear sites, the locations of enrichment plants that are under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards and regular inspections.

"Following my last report, Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched up to 20% and up to 60% U-235 continued to increase," Grossi said.  U-235 - uranium-235 - is the fissile isotope of the element. Uranium enriched to more than 20% U-235 can be thought of as military levels of enrichment - although enrichments of around 90% are more usually thought of as weapons grade.

"However, during the high-level meetings between the Agency and Iran in Tehran on 14 November 2024, the possibility of Iran not further expanding its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% U-235 was discussed, including technical verification measures necessary for the Agency to confirm this, if implemented. On 16 November 2024, the Agency verified at Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant and at Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant that Iran had begun implementation of preparatory measures aimed at stopping the increase of its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% U-235. Exchanges between the Agency and Iran on this matter are expected to continue."

Iran stopped implementing its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA - the 2015 multilateral agreement under which it had agreed to limit its nuclear activities including uranium enrichment over a 15-year period and to allow in international inspectors in return for the lifting of economic sanctions - three and a half years ago, Grossi noted. As a consequence, the IAEA has "lost continuity of knowledge in relation to the production and inventory of centrifuges, rotors and bellows, heavy water and uranium ore concentrate", he noted.

The March 2023 joint statement saw Iran agree to enhanced cooperation with the IAEA. Grossi said "substantive discussions" of issues covered by the statement continued during his most recent visit, including on issues related to "the discrepancy in the nuclear material balance and possible elements to address Varamin". Varamin is not a declared nuclear site, but uranium particles of anthropogenic origin have been found there

"During our meeting, Iran agreed to respond to the Agency's concerns related to Iran's withdrawal of the designation of several experienced Agency inspectors by considering the acceptance of the designation of four additional experienced inspectors, a decision I welcome," Grossi said.

In a press conference following his presentation to the Board, Grossi said Iran's stance "is a very important development indeed". Uranium enriched to 60% - "almost military levels" - is accepted "by all" as a valid nuclear non-proliferation concern, so Iran's stance is significant.

"I attach importance to the fact that for the first time since the distancing of Iran from its past obligations they are taking a different direction … this is the first time that they are saying 'OK, we stop'. So I think this merits serious consideration from the non-proliferation point of view," he said, adding that this is "in the context of a host of issues that need to be addressed".