IAEA report accuses Iran of undeclared nuclear program, Tehran dismisses claims

A confidential IAEA report reveals Iran conducted secret nuclear activities using undeclared material at several sites, raising serious non-compliance concerns.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has uncovered undisclosed nuclear activities by Iran at three locations long under investigation, according to a confidential report seen by Reuters. These findings suggest Iran used nuclear material not declared to the UN watchdog as part of a coordinated, secret nuclear program that operated until the early 2000s.

The report, requested by the IAEA’s 35-member Board of Governors, is expected to lead the United States, Britain, France, and Germany to propose a resolution declaring Iran in violation of its non-proliferation commitments. This would mark the first formal breach finding against Iran in nearly 20 years, escalating tensions and complicating nuclear negotiations with Washington.

Iran’s foreign ministry dismissed the report as politically driven and warned it will respond accordingly at the upcoming board meeting in June. Tehran maintains its nuclear ambitions are peaceful and denies seeking nuclear weapons.

While some allegations in the report concern activities dating back decades, the IAEA’s conclusions are more definitive, highlighting ongoing secret experiments and unresolved uranium traces at several sites. It noted Iran’s cooperation remains insufficient, especially regarding explanations of nuclear material found at two locations.

The IAEA concluded that these three sites and possibly others were part of a structured, undeclared nuclear program. Additionally, nuclear material and contaminated equipment from that program were stored at a fourth location, Turquzabad, between 2009 and 2018.

Copied