Iran has agreed to enhanced oversight by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in return for its decision to significantly increase the production of highly enriched uranium, according to a confidential report from the UN agency cited by media outlets on Friday.
Earlier this month, Tehran announced that it had begun operating new centrifuges at the Fordo facility, with the goal of substantially raising the production rate of uranium enriched to 60%, as noted by the IAEA. The output is expected to surpass 34 kg per month, compared to the 4.7 kg recorded during the previous review period.
In response to these “changes,” the Vienna-based organization requested a reassessment of its inspections to ensure that “the facility is not being used” to “produce uranium at enrichment levels higher than those declared” and that there is “no diversion of declared nuclear material.”
“The Iranian government has accepted the Agency’s request to increase the frequency and intensity” of its monitoring measures, the IAEA reported. Tehran asserts its right to pursue nuclear energy for civilian purposes, particularly for energy generation, while denying any intention to develop an atomic bomb.
