MANAMA (Bahrain), Dec 7: Iran is on the verge of significantly increasing its stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium, as it has begun utilizing advanced centrifuge cascades, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned on Friday.
Rafael Mariano Grossi’s comments came shortly after Iran announced a successful space launch, marking its heaviest payload to date. Western nations allege that such developments bolster Tehran’s ballistic missile program.
With uranium now being enriched at 60%, just a technical step away from the 90% threshold needed for weapons-grade material, Iran continues to assert that its nuclear activities are peaceful. However, Iranian officials have increasingly hinted at the potential pursuit of nuclear weaponry and the intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities to target far-off adversaries like the United States.
These developments are likely to heighten tensions in the Middle East, particularly amidst Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip and a fragile ceasefire in Lebanon.
Iran might also be positioning itself for potential negotiations with the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who, during his first term, withdrew the U.S. from the nuclear agreement with world powers.
A recent report from the U.S. intelligence community indicated that while “Iran is not building a nuclear weapon,” it is engaging in activities that could enable it to produce one if it chooses to do so. The report also warned that discussions within Iran about acquiring nuclear capabilities could empower proponents of such weaponry within the Iranian leadership.
Grossi, speaking in Bahrain during the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Manama Dialogue, mentioned that IAEA inspectors are preparing to verify the extent of Iran’s centrifuge activity following Tehran’s notification to the agency about its plans.
“This is very concerning,” Grossi expressed. “They were preparing and had many facilities in standby, and now they are activating them. We will observe closely.” He added, “If they fully operationalize their centrifuges, it will represent a major advancement.”
An IAEA statement following Grossi’s remarks noted that Iran has begun feeding two cascades of advanced IR-6 centrifuges with uranium enriched up to 20% at the underground Fordo facility, designed to shield it from airstrikes.
Cascades consist of a group of centrifuges working together to accelerate uranium enrichment. The IR-6 centrifuges are capable of enriching uranium more efficiently than Iran’s previously utilized baseline IR-1 centrifuges. The switch to 20% enriched uranium from the previously planned 5% drastically accelerates the enrichment process.
“The modification in the design of the facility indicates that this change will substantially increase the production rate,” stated the IAEA. Additionally, Iran plans to start feeding natural uranium into eight other IR-6 cascades at Fordo to yield 5%-enriched uranium.
In late November, the IAEA issued a warning that Iran was gearing up to enrich uranium using thousands of advanced centrifuges, which followed the Board of Governors’ condemnation of Iran for inadequate cooperation with the agency.
Iran has not confirmed these preparations, and the Iranian mission to the United Nations did not respond to requests for comment.
The launch on Friday took place at Iran’s Imam Khomeini Spaceport in Semnan province, about 220 kilometers (135 miles) east of Tehran. This site has been associated with Iran’s civilian space program, which has faced numerous failed launches of the Simorgh rocket previously.
The Simorgh rocket reportedly carried an “orbital propulsion system” along with two research systems to an orbit 400 kilometers (250 miles) above Earth. A system capable of adjusting a spacecraft’s orbit could empower Iran to synchronize its satellites’ trajectories, a goal it has long pursued.
Additionally, the rocket carried the Fakhr-1 satellite intended for military purposes, marking the first instance of Iran’s civilian space initiatives being used for military payloads.
Iran indicated that the Simorgh’s payload was 300 kilograms (660 pounds), surpassing all previous successful domestic launches. State television broadcast footage of a correspondent discussing the payload as the Simorgh took off, with crowds chanting, “God is great!”
The U.S. military deferred inquiries regarding the launch to the country’s Space Command, which did not provide a response. Space experts noted that tracking data seemed to confirm the successful placement of objects into orbit.
The United States has previously stated that Iran’s satellite launches contravene U.N. Security Council resolutions and has urged Tehran to refrain from any activities related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons. Notably, U.N. sanctions concerning Iran’s ballistic missile program expired in October 2023.
According to a U.S. intelligence report from July, “Iran’s development of space-launch vehicles, including the Simorgh, may accelerate its timeline to produce intercontinental ballistic missiles, should it decide to pursue such capabilities, since the technologies involved are similar.”
Iran consistently denies any intentions to develop nuclear weapons, asserting that its space program, like its nuclear endeavors, is aimed solely at peaceful objectives. However, U.S. intelligence agencies and the IAEA have indicated that Iran maintained an organized military nuclear program until 2003.
Under the more moderate leadership of former President Hassan Rouhani, Iran slowed its space program due to concerns about heightening tensions with the West. The late hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi, a close associate of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who took office in 2021, accelerated this program. Raisi tragically died in a helicopter crash in May.
The reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran has expressed a desire to negotiate with the West regarding sanctions but has yet to present a strategy concerning Iran’s space aspirations. The recent Simorgh launch marks the first accomplishment for his administration from the country’s civil space program. Additionally, Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard successfully launched from its parallel program in September. (AP)
