IAEA warns of ‘concerns’ over Iran nuclear plans

SpaceWar.com reports: “The UN nuclear watchdog has voiced growing concern over Iran’s ability to build nuclear weapons, fuelled by recent public statements in the country, according to a confidential report seen by AFP on Monday.

Tensions between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have repeatedly flared since a 2015 deal aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanction relief has been left in tatters.

In the report, IAEA head Rafael Grossi said that ‘public statements made in Iran regarding its technical capabilities to produce nuclear weapons’ have only increased ‘concerns about the correctness and completeness of Iran’s safeguards declarations’.

In recent years, Iran has reduced its cooperation with the IAEA by deactivating surveillance devices for monitoring the nuclear programme and barring inspectors, among other measures.

Ahead of an IAEA board of governors meeting next week, Grossi reiterated his call on Tehran to ‘cooperate fully and unambiguously with the agency.’

‘Only through constructive and meaningful engagement can these concerns be addressed,’ Grossi said in the confidential quarterly report.

Tehran denies seeking to acquire nuclear weapons.

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