UN nuclear watchdog urges Iran to allow full inspections, points at Isfahan

The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has issued a confidential report urging Iran to grant inspections of all its nuclear sites, highlighting the city of Isfahan as a particular point of concern. The report, dated February 27, cites a new enrichment plant and storage of near-bomb-grade uranium at the location.

The report was circulated to members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) ahead of a quarterly meeting next week of its 35-country board, coming as nuclear talks between the United States and Iran continue, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media. 

The latest round of talks, held on February 26, ended without a breakthrough.

Like previous IAEA assessments, the report could bolster Washington’s claim that Tehran has not been fully transparent about its nuclear activities, at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump has deployed additional forces to the region and threatened potential military action.

The United States and Israel carried out airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites last June. Since then, Iran has refused to clarify what happened to its stockpile of highly enriched uranium or allow inspectors access to sites where enrichment occurred.

"While the Agency acknowledged that the military attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities had created an unprecedented situation, it is critical for it to conduct verification activities in Iran without any further delay," the report, seen by Reuters, said.

Allowing inspections is described as "indispensable and urgent."

The report also stated that a successful outcome in U.S.-Iranian negotiations would have a "positive impact on the effective implementation of safeguards in Iran and the resolution of issues described in this report."

The IAEA estimates that Iran held 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60% before last year’s Israeli-U.S. attacks—enough, if further enriched, for roughly 10 nuclear weapons, according to the agency’s standards. Western powers and the IAEA believe most of that material remains intact, while Washington seeks its surrender.

The report provided new details about activity in Isfahan, where diplomats have indicated that much of Iran’s most highly enriched uranium has been stored in a tunnel complex that appears to have avoided destruction during last June’s strikes. For the first time, the report confirmed that material enriched to 20% and 60% had been kept there.

In satellite imagery, the IAEA observed "regular vehicular activity around the entrance to the tunnel complex at Isfahan in which [uranium] enriched up to 20% and 60% U-235 ... was stored," the report said.

The U.S.-Israeli attacks are believed to have destroyed or severely damaged the three uranium enrichment sites known to be operating at the time. Iran had announced the construction of a fourth enrichment plant in Isfahan shortly before the Israeli strikes, but the IAEA has yet to determine its precise location or operational status.

"It is a matter of increasing concern that Iran has never provided the Agency with access to its fourth declared enrichment facility since it was first declared by Iran in June last year," the report added.

By Sabina Mammadli