Vienna, Sept 1. (dpa/GNA) – Iran is continuing to keep UN nuclear inspectors in the dark about its disputed uranium stockpiles.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi, wrote in a non-public report seen by dpa on Tuesday that Tehran, had again refused to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency in recent months. The Islamic Republic had continued to provide no information to the IAEA in Vienna, about the approximately 440 kilograms of near-weapons-grade uranium in the country, the report said.
According to experts, the quantity is sufficient for several nuclear weapons if the purity of the highly enriched material, were increased somewhat further.
IAEA inspectors currently also have no access to more than 20 sites of the Iranian nuclear programme.
Tehran denies wanting to build nuclear weapons.
In the course of the Iran war, the United States and Israel attacked and severely damaged numerous nuclear facilities in Iran. Tehran responded in part by adopting a blocking stance towards the IAEA.
The US and Iran concluded a framework agreement in June to end the war, and pave the way for further negotiations. The agreement also announced that the highly enriched uranium could be diluted under IAEA supervision. That has so far not happened.
Since June, Washington and Tehran have accused each other of violating the framework agreement. In recent days, the Iran war has escalated for the first time in weeks, with both sides carrying out attacks on each other.
GNA