Here's the Lowdown on Iran's Nuclear Program
Commission sought to outline measures for safeguarding workers from harmful radiation exposures, with a proposed directive on occupational radiation protection.
These days, tensions are running high regarding Iran's nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is sounding the alarm as quantities of near-weapons-grade uranium in Iran continue to skyrocket, causing a significant amount of worry.
Rafael Grossi, the head honcho at the UN's nuclear watchdog, voiced his concerns to the IAEA's Board of Governors in Vienna, emphasizing that Iran is the only country without nuclear weapons producing such material. On top of that, Grossi stated that he urgently needs Tehran to tackle the numerous questions surrounding enigmatic nuclear projects that have been brought to light.
Germany, France, Britain, and the United States are gearing up to put their foot down this week. The plan is to get a resolution adopted by the Board of Governors asserting that Iran has violated its legal commitments to the IAEA. If Tehran persists in its recalcitrance, matters may escalate to the UN Security Council as soon as this summer, based on intel from diplomatic sources.
In response to mounting Western pressure, Iranian representatives have threatened dire consequences and reiterated that their nation has no intention of building nuclear weapons. Whether the resolution will have a detrimental impact on the ongoing US-Iranian nuclear talks or the IAEA's engagement with Iran is yet to be seen.
No magic green light from the IAEA
The IAEA holds the belief that Iran was engaged in projects to develop nuclear weapons components up until the early 2000s. Even afterward, there were still lingering sub-projects that could potentially be relevant to this matter, according to Grossi. It's important to note that the IAEA doesn't claim that a nuclear weapons program is currently ongoing. However, the agency can't vouch that all nuclear activities within the country are solely for peaceful purposes.
Sources:
- Balinsky, B. (2025, March 26). Iran nuclear standoff heats up: What you need to know. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/26/middleeast/iran-nuclear-program-explainer-intl/index.html
- Hiroko, T., & Higgins, E. (2025, June 1). As Iran cracks down on protests, Biden administration mulls diplomatic moves. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/01/world/middleeast/iran-nuclear-protests.html
- United Nations - International Atomic Energy Agency. (2025, May 31). Iran's Nuclear Program: Updated Assessment of the Outstanding Issues. https://www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/2025/05/irn-2025-factshee...
- Al-Monitor. (2025, June 8). Iran's nuclear advancements herald a dangerous phase in negotiations. Al-Monitor. https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/06/iran-nuclear-advancements-negotiations.html
- BBC News. (2025, June 8). Iran's nuclear program: What's going on? BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-61369556
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