- Grossi says the IAEA inspected all the sites, not the bombed ones.
- He says it is not feasible to inspect during social unrest.
- He emphasizes that Iran must comply with its nuclear obligations.
DAVOS: The standoff with Iran over accounting for its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and inspection of nuclear facilities bombed by the United States and Israel cannot last forever, the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, said Tuesday.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has inspected all 13 declared nuclear facilities in Iran that were not bombed, but has not been able to inspect any of the three key sites that were bombed in June: Natanz, Fordow or Isfahan, Grossi said. Reuters in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Iran must first submit a report to the IAEA on what happened to those sites and materials, including about 440.9 kg of uranium enriched to 60% purity, close to the weapons-grade level of about 90%. This is enough material, if further enriched, for 10 nuclear bombs, according to IAEA criteria.
There is no ‘a la carte’ option
Iran has not submitted that special report to the IAEA.
“This can’t go on forever because at some point I’m going to have to say, ‘Well, I have no idea where this material is,’” which would mean there was no guarantee the material hadn’t been diverted or hidden, Grossi said.
“I don’t have that conviction or conclusion at this point, but what we are saying to Iran is that it needs to engage.”
Iran says it is cooperating fully with the IAEA. His government could not immediately be reached for comment.
It has been at least seven months since the IAEA last verified Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Its own guidance is that it should be done monthly.
Grossi said he was exercising “diplomatic prudence” but that Iran had to meet its obligations as part of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
“This cannot continue like this for long without me, unfortunately, having to declare them non-compliant,” he said, noting that the NPT parties do not have an “a la carte” option where they can choose what to comply with.
Asked if the issue could be resolved this spring, he said, “That’s a reasonable timeline.”
The last inspections were in December.
One of the “real world” realities Grossi said he must confront is the influence of diplomatic efforts aimed at reaching a broader deal between Iran and the United States, led by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff.
“I can’t ignore it and I wish him the best so that there can be an understanding without the imminent threat of new military activity there or something like that,” he said.
The IAEA said in November that it had inspected most of Iran’s nuclear facilities that were not hit by the US and Israeli attacks. It has since conducted more inspections through the end of December, Grossi said.
However, it was not possible to carry out inspections during the civil unrest, he said, referring to the recent protests. Iranian officials have indicated that the unrest has ceased, he said.
“They said things are calm and they are in control, etc.,” Grossi said. “If this is the situation, shouldn’t we resume (inspections)?”
Grossi said he would meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in “a matter of days or weeks.”
