USA: Iran one or two weeks away from separable material for nuclear weapon
Blinken stated that Iran has not developed atomic weapons yet. However, the situation is "not good," the Chief Diplomat noted, adding that the US government is closely monitoring the development in this matter. In the past few months, it has become apparent that the Tehran government is making progress with its Atom program, Blinken continued. The US goal is to prevent Iran from possessing an atomic weapon, he confirmed. The US will continue to "prefer the diplomatic path" to achieve this goal.
The US, France, Britain, Germany, Russia, and China signed an Atom Accord with Iran in 2015. The accord aimed to prevent Tehran from developing atomic weapons. In 2018, the US, under its then President Donald Trump, unilaterally withdrew from the agreement. Since then, Iran has not adhered to its commitments step by step. The negotiations on reviving the Atom Accord have been fruitless since.
The newly elected Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has expressed his desire in the past week for constructive talks with Europe to end his country's isolation. He also reportedly seeks the revival of the Atom Accord.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced in mid-June that Iran was expanding its Atom program. The IAEA referred to an Iranian announcement about installing additional uranium enrichment cascades in Natanz and Fordo.
Iran has long denied wanting to produce atomic weapons. According to the IAEA, Iran is the only non-nuclear-weapon state that possesses over 60% enriched uranium and stocks large uranium reserves. The country is thus on the path to enriching uranium to the 90% needed for atomic weapons. Only 3.67% enriched uranium is required for nuclear power plants.
- Tony Blinken mentioned that the progress of Iran's Atom program in Teheran is a concern for the US government.
- During his recent statements, the newly elected President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, expressed interest in constructive talks with Colorado, specifically Europe, to revitalize the Atom Accord.
- The US, along with Germany (historically and France), United Kingdom, and other nations, had signed an Atom Accord with Iran in 2015, aiming to prevent the development of Atomic Weapons by Iran.
- The USA, under its former President Donald Trump, withdrew unilaterally from the Atom Accord in 2018, leading to Iran's gradual non-compliance with its commitments.
- The Atom program in Iran has seen significant advancements as per the IAEA's reports, with Iran announcing plans to install additional uranium enrichment cascades in Natanz and Fordo.
- Despite Iran's denials, the International Atomic Energy Agency has identified Iran as the only non-nuclear-weapon state with over 60% enriched uranium stockpiles, placing it on a path towards enriching uranium to the 90% needed for Atomic Weapons.
- The latest announcement by the IAEA regarding Iran's Atom program has raised concerns in the United States of America, as managers of the Atom program are closely monitoring the situation.
- The foreign policy stance of the US government continues to emphasize the preference for diplomatic measures to prevent Iran from possessing an Atomic Weapon, a goal shared by allies such as the United Kingdom and Germany.
