The IAEA Calls Iran Modified Devices At The Fordow Uranium Acquisition Facility

Illustration of the IAEA inspection team. (Source: IAEA Imagebank)

JAKARTA - The United Nations nuclear watchdog criticized Iran for making undeclared changes to the interconnect between two advanced machine groups that enriched uranium to 60 percent purity, approaching weapons levels at one of its nuclear facilities.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) discovered the changes during a surprise inspection on January 21 at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP), a site excavated on the mountain where inspectors stepped up checks after Iran said it would expand enrichment dramatically.

The Fordow facility is so sensitive that the 2015 Nuclear Deal between Iran and major countries prohibits enrichment there. Since the United States withdrew from the deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran, Tehran has violated many of the deal's limits on its nuclear activities.

In a secret report to member states seen by Reuters, the IAEA did not say how the interconnection between the two IR-6 centrifugal cascades had been changed, except that "they are interconnected in a manner that is substantially different from the mode of operation stated by Iran (to the IAEA)," as quoted by Reuters on February 2.

In a public statement summarizing the secret report, the IAEA said the agency's head was "worrying Iran is implementing substantial changes in FFEP design information, in connection with the production of highly enriched uranium without telling the agency beforehand."

"This is inconsistent with Iran's obligations based on the Security Agreement, undermined the IAEA's ability to adjust security approaches to FFEP and implemented effective security measures at the facility," the report read.

The IAEA has regular access to Fordow to carry out verification activities, such as inspections and is in talks with Iran to increase the activity, the report said.

"IAEA and Iran have resumed their discussions. The agency has increased the frequency and intensity of its verification activities at the FFEP. However, several other security measures are still needed and are being discussed with Iran," the report added.

The IAEA itself has been deadlocked for months with Tehran, which has refused to give up on the state's insistence on explaining traces of highly enriched uranium on undeclared sites.

In November, Tehran announced it would increase uranium supplies and install several advanced centrifuges, including IR-6, at Fordow and Natanz.

A few weeks later, Iranian officials said the IAEA delegation would visit the country, but analysts had little confidence that it would lead to compliance from Tehran.

Iran notified the agency of changes at Fordow following an examination on January 16, the report said, citing The National News.

The IAEA assesses Iran now has a large supply of uranium enriched by up to 60 percent, one step closer to acquiring nuclear weapons.

While there will still be some hurdles in producing it, Britain has previously warned that Iran is moving quickly to acquire nuclear weapons, with its wait reduced to "weekly calculations."