BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 9. Iran’s stockpile of uranium continues to increase, said Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Trend reports.
"Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched up to 20 percent and up to 60 percent continues to increase, and Iran has expanded the number of cascades it is using to enrich UF6. It has been more than three and a half years since Iran stopped implementing its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA, including provisionally applying its Additional Protocol," Grossi stated, as he addressed the Board of Governors.
He added that it is over three and a half years since the IAEA was able to conduct complementary access in Iran. "Consequently, the agency has lost continuity of knowledge in relation to the production and inventory of centrifuges, rotors and bellows, heavy water and uranium ore concentrate".
Meanwhile, in January 2016, Iran and the P5+1 group (the US, Russia, China, the UK, France, and Germany) implemented the Comprehensive Joint Plan of Action concerning Iran’s nuclear program.
In May 2018, the U.S. announced its withdrawal from the deal and reimposed sanctions on Iran.
By the end of 2020, the Iranian parliament decided to pursue a strategic plan in the nuclear sector to counter the sanctions, leading to a suspension of additional steps and the Additional Protocol as per the nuclear agreement.
Consequently, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) faced a reduction in monitoring capabilities by 20-30 percent.