Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (right) shakes hands with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi before a meeting in Tehran. Photo: AFP
Iran has taken an important step towards de-escalating nuclear tensions by agreeing to limit further increases in its enriched uranium stockpile to 60%. This was announced by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi after his recent visit to Tehran, Reuters reports.
“I asked Iran to stop increasing its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60%. This request was accepted, and Iran agreed not to increase this level,” Grossi said. However, he did not specify whether the Islamic Republic of Iran has made formal commitments to this step, leaving the question open.
Tehran’s decision comes amid rising tensions in international relations and consideration of a new resolution by the IAEA Board of Governors, which is a continuation of previous criticism of Iran for its lack of full cooperation with the agency. Western countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the United States, are actively advocating for new restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons.
Enrichment of uranium to 60% is critical for the production of materials that can be used to make nuclear warheads. Western countries are demanding that Iran stop expanding its nuclear programmes, as this could bring it much closer to the ability to produce nuclear weapons.
Iran’s recent negotiations and actions indicate an attempt to avoid further escalation of the conflict with the international community, but the issue of Iran’s nuclear programme remains one of the most sensitive in global politics.
