‘Intentions are not enough…’: UN nuclear chief says Iran nuclear pledge needs ‘very strong verification’
The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog said on Friday that Iran's commitment not to develop a nuclear weapon would require "very strong" verification as
The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog said on Friday that Iran's commitment not to develop a nuclear weapon would require "very strong" verification as Tehran and Washington negotiate a long-term agreement aimed at ending their conflict, AFP reported. Iran's nuclear programme remains a central issue in the talks, which seek to bring an end to the Middle East war that began in late February following large-scale US and Israeli strikes. Last week, Iran and the United States signed a preliminary agreement to halt the conflict and launched negotiations expected to address several contentious issues, with Tehran's nuclear programme among the key topics. But there has been contrasting information from Tehran and Washington on whether UN inspectors will have access to Iranian nuclear facilities. “I think the objective of this agreement is to ensure that there is no development of nuclear weapons in Iran. The government of Iran has declared quite clearly that this is not their intention,” International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head Rafael Grossi said Friday. “But of course intentions are not enough. We have to have a very strong verification system in place... as soon as is practicable,” he added. Grossi said the UN's nuclear watchdog had so far "barely initiated" talks with Iran following the agreement with the United States. Under the agreement, Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium is to be diluted, or "downblended," under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Before the conflict, the IAEA estimated that Iran possessed around 440 kilograms (970 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity—below the level required for a nuclear weapon. However, the current status of that stockpile remains unclear following US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last year. In Tehran meanwhile, people told AFP that despite the diplomatic progress, there had so far been no tangible benefits in everyday life. "Overall, nothing has improved," said Amir, 28, a government employee. "Life has simply become more difficult." Mehdi, 35, a content creator, said that “until such changes are felt in people's everyday lives, it is only natural that hope will remain accompanied by doubt, and that anticipation will give way to exhaustion and anxiety”, AFP reported. ‘Going to happen’ Iran's nuclear programme has long been a source of friction with Western powers, who suspect Tehran is building a bomb despite repeated Iranian denials. US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Tehran had "fully and completely agreed" to allow UN inspectors to return to the country, while on Wednesday Grossi said inspections of Iranian nuclear sites were "going to happen". Also Read | How is Trump straining ties with allies amid Iran war? Iran, however, said this week it had no intention of admitting the watchdog. Tehran agreed to a landmark nuclear deal with six big powers in 2015 that placed limits on its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief, but Trump walked away from the agreement during his first term as president.
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