Iran Nuclear Escalation Seen Hurtling Toward Dangerous Crisis
BNNNov 17, 2022
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) stated on Tuesday that stockpiles of uranium enriched up to 60% had increased at Natanz nuclear facility, and that its production has begun for the first time at the Fordow fuel enrichment plant.
Tehran is in possession of six "cascades," or clusters, of "IR-6" centrifuges in service at three plants at Fordow and Natanz. The IR-6 is the most advanced model Iran is using on such a scale, and it reportedly intends to add 14 more IR-6 cascades at Fordow.
Tehran may argue that its nuclear program is peaceful, but this is hard to believe given that Iranian atomic activity is expanding at an unprecedented pace and authorities have imposed restrictions on international monitoring. Tehran must urgently resume cooperation with the IAEA monitors to avoid further escalations that may destabilize regional and global security.
The IAEA Board of Governors had been warned that approving an unconstructive resolution based on false claims only to maintain a Western-led maximum-pressure campaign would cause a backlash. The IAEA should not be surprised that Iran has boosted uranium enrichment. Tehran is open to conducting technical talks with the IAEA experts but will not accept attempts to politicize its nuclear program.
There's a 50% chance that Iran will possess a nuclear weapon before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.