Some of Iran's most highly enriched uranium, close to weapons grade, was stored in an underground area of its nuclear site in Isfahan, the UN nuclear watchdog said in a confidential report sent to member states on Friday (27 February).

The report was sent to members of the International Atomic Energy Agency ahead of a quarterly meeting next week of its 35-country board, amid nuclear talks between the United States and Iran. 

"While the Agency acknowledged that the military attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities had created an unprecedented situation, it is critical for it to conduct verification activities in Iran without any further delay," the report seen by Reuters said.

Indispensable and urgent

Allowing inspections was "indispensable and urgent", it said. The report also said a successful outcome in the U.S.-Iranian negotiations would have a "positive impact on the effective implementation of safeguards in Iran and the resolution of issues described in this report".

The IAEA estimates that Iran had 440.9 kg of uranium enriched to up to 60% before last year's Israeli-U.S. attacks- enough, if enriched further, for 10 nuclear weapons, according to an IAEA yardstick.

The agency and Western powers believe the bulk of that is still intact. Washington wants Tehran to give it up.

The report provided new details about activity at Isfahan, where diplomats have said much of the Islamic Republic's most highly enriched uranium has been stored in a tunnel complex that appears to have averted destruction last June.

For the first time, the report confirmed that material enriched to up to 20% and 60% had been kept there.

In satellite imagery, the IAEA had observed "regular vehicular activity around the entrance to the tunnel complex at Isfahan in which (uranium) enriched up to 20% and 60% U-235 ... was stored," it said.

The U.S.-Israeli attacks are believed to have destroyed or badly damaged the three uranium enrichment sites known to have been operating at the time.

• Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal: What you need to know
• Iran demands IAEA protocol on inspection of bombed nuclear sites
• Iran rejects 'zero enrichment' condition, urges IAEA to act independently

Shortly before Israel launched its attack, Iran said it was setting up a fourth enrichment plant in Isfahan, though the IAEA still does not know its precise location or whether it is operational, the report said.

"It is a matter of increasing concern that Iran has never provided the Agency with access to its fourth declared enrichment facility since it was first declared by Iran in June last year," the report said.

Tags

Iran nuclear talks IAEA Nuclear Security Diplomacy Middle East Israel Politics Trump