VIENNA
Iran has refused to grant United Nations inspectors access to its nuclear facilities following a series of airstrikes by Israel and the United States, leaving the international body unable to verify the status of the country’s uranium enrichment program, according to a confidential report obtained Friday by The Associated Press.
The report, circulated to member states by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), states that the agency “cannot verify whether Iran has suspended all enrichment-related activities” nor determine the “size of Iran’s uranium stockpile at the affected nuclear facilities.”
The lack of access follows a 12-day war in June during which American and Israeli forces bombed Iranian nuclear sites.
While Iran operates four declared enrichment facilities, the IAEA report warns that without on-the-ground verification, it “cannot provide any information on the current size, composition or whereabouts of the stockpile of enriched uranium in Iran.”
The watchdog emphasized that the “loss of continuity of knowledge” regarding Iran’s nuclear materials “needs to be addressed with the utmost urgency.”
Tehran has long maintained that its nuclear program is peaceful. However, the IAEA and Western nations have previously asserted that Iran had an organized nuclear weapons program that was active until 2003.
The United States is currently seeking a diplomatic deal to limit Iran’s nuclear activities and prevent the development of atomic weapons.
By James Kisoo
