Iran: No dilution of 60% uranium without full sanctions relief

Iran has signaled that any potential move to dilute its stockpile of 60 per cent enriched uranium would be strictly conditional on the full and effective lifting of sanctions, according to the country’s vice president and head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami.

Speaking to reporters on February 9, Eslami dismissed speculation that Iran might remove enriched uranium from its territory, stressing that such a proposal has never been part of ongoing negotiations. He said claims about transferring enriched uranium abroad are largely promoted by pressure groups and political actors opposed to the Islamic Republic, Caliber.Az reports via Iranian media.

Eslami added that even if such an idea had been raised informally by an individual or a country as a possible confidence-building measure, it was never pursued or discussed in any negotiating framework.

Turning to Iran’s engagement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Eslami criticised the Agency’s response to military attacks on nuclear facilities operating under international safeguards, arguing that the issue falls squarely within the IAEA’s responsibilities.

“If facilities are under IAEA supervision and Iran is part of the Agency’s safeguards and credibility framework, the IAEA cannot remain silent about such incidents or adopt political and unprofessional behavior,” he said.

Eslami emphasised that Iran continues to cooperate technically with the IAEA within the safeguards framework. He said inspections of nuclear facilities that were not damaged in recent attacks have continued with the approval of relevant authorities, noting that several inspections have already taken place since the war, with additional visits scheduled in the coming days.

By Sabina Mammadli