Iran claims to have lost access to a key ingredient in its nuclear weapons programme—for now at least.
According to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a Thursday September 11th televised interview
All of our material is under the rubble of the bombed facilities …. For now, no action will be taken until Iran carries out the necessary measures related to environmental and safety concerns.
The remarks came after Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) agreed on a new cooperation framework on Tuesday, September 9th. Tehran had suspended ties with the agency following the 12-day war with Israel in June, which saw Israeli and US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Access to undamaged facilities will be “considered on a case–by–case basis by the Supreme National Security Council,” said Araghchi, adding that the situation for the targeted facilities was more “complicated,” adding “No inspections are currently on the agenda.”
In contrast, for IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi, the agreement includes “all facilities and installations in Iran.”
The agency reported that as of June 13th, when the brief conflict began, Iran possessed an estimated 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to up to 60%—a level edging close to the roughly 90% purity required for nuclear weapons.
The Iranian declaration emerged against the backdrop of European Union efforts to steer the Islamic Republic’s nuclear programme in a wholly civilian direction.
