Israel Matzav

IAEA: Iran triples higher enriched uranium since November

The apparently straight-shooting IAEA chairman Yukiya Amano (whose predecessor spent years covering for Iran) is making it very difficult for President Obama and other world leaders not to confront the reality of a nuclear Iran. Amano reports that Iran has tripled its production of higher enriched uranium, and expresses concern for the military dimensions of Iran's nuclear program.

Yukiya Amano, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, also told the IAEA's 35-nation board of governors about the lack of progress in two rounds of talks between the Vienna-based UN agency and Tehran this year.

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During meetings in the Iranian capital in January and February, Iranian officials stonewalled the IAEA's requests for access to a military site seen as central to its investigation into the nature of the Islamic state's nuclear activity.

"The agency continues to have serious concerns regarding possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme," Amano told the closed-door meeting, according to a copy of his speech.

The IAEA "is unable to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran, and therefore to conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities," he added.

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Since the IAEA's previous report in November, Amano said Iran has tripled monthly production of uranium refined to a fissile concentration of 20 percent - well above the level usually needed to run nuclear power plants.

Though indicated by the IAEA's confidential report last month, it was the first time Amano spoke in public about this rapid increase in Iran's enrichment activities, which has stoked Western and Israeli suspicions about Tehran's nuclear agenda.

Despite intensive discussions with Iran, Amano said, there had been no agreement on a "structured approach" to resolve outstanding issues with its nuclear programme during the talks held in January and February.

Iran "did not address the agency's concerns in a substantive manner," Amano said.

Making clear, however, that he would keep trying to engage Iran on the issue, he added: "Regarding future steps, the agency will continue to address the Iran nuclear issue through dialogue and in a constructive spirit."

The agency also reported that Syria is using its 'delicate situation' as an excuse for not complying with IAEA requests. Read the whole thing.

Labels: IAEA, Iranian nuclear threat, Syrian nuclear program, Yukia Amano

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:30 PM