The American newspaper "The Wall Street Journal" reported today, Saturday, that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has found new evidence regarding undeclared nuclear activities in Iran.
The newspaper quoted three diplomats stating that the samples taken by the agency from two locations in Iran during an inspection conducted last fall "contained traces of radioactive materials." The diplomats added that the location where the radioactive materials were discovered may indicate that Iran has previously engaged in nuclear weapons-related activities, but they said they "do not know the nature of the materials discovered."
Last Tuesday, the agency announced that Iran had started enriching uranium with a second series of advanced "IR-2M" centrifuges at the underground Natanz nuclear facility, considering this action a violation of the 2015 nuclear agreement. The agency noted that Iran is close to completing the installation of a third group of centrifuges underground in Natanz and is preparing to begin installing a fourth group.
The nuclear agreement established in 2015 during Barack Obama's administration is on the verge of collapse as Iran has reduced its commitments stemming from it, particularly regarding raising the uranium enrichment level from the 3% allowed by the agreement to 20%, in response to the policies of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who withdrew from the agreement in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Tehran.
While both Russia and the European Union are seeking to revive this agreement with Biden's arrival at the White House, the current disagreement revolves around who should take the first step to return to the nuclear agreement. Iran recently offered to take synchronized steps to return to the agreement; however, Washington responded to this proposal lukewarmly.
