The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has lost the ability to track Iranian enriched uranium after the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Iran. This was stated by the agency's Director General Rafael Grossi on the air of the France 2 television channel.
“400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% are a serious problem“, noted the head of the IAEA. “This material exists somewhere, but the agency lost track of it after the start of hostilities.“
According to Grossi, “despite the period of hostilities, Iran is obliged in any case to show the agency inspectors where the material is located.“
Commenting on the decision of the Iranian parliament to temporarily suspend cooperation between the Islamic Republic and the IAEA, Grossi noted that “this is not a favor that Iran is doing the agency“. “This is a legal obligation. As long as Iran remains a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, this obligation remains in force,“ said Grossi. According to him, the agency's activities in the Islamic Republic should be resumed as soon as possible.
Speaking about the "report on the Iranian nuclear program that provoked the military action", the IAEA chief added that the agency has openly stated that Iran does not possess nuclear weapons.
"I said that there are questions, more transparency is needed, there are controversial issues, but I also clearly stated that even if Iran has different elements and materials, it cannot be said that it has nuclear weapons", the agency's director general said.
In response to a question about the recent attacks on Iranian facilities, Grossi stressed that "under international law, attacks on nuclear facilities are prohibited".
French President Emmanuel Macron believes that the IAEA should be able to resume its activities immediately in Iran.
“It is essential that the agency be able to resume its mission in Iran as soon as possible“, Macron wrote in X after a meeting at the Élysée Palace with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.
The president assured that “Paris supports the IAEA, whose role is crucial for nuclear security“. On Wednesday, members of the Iranian parliament approved a bill to temporarily suspend the Islamic Republic's cooperation with the IAEA. Agency officials are not allowed to enter the country to carry out inspections unless the security of nuclear facilities and peaceful nuclear activities is guaranteed.
Tehran noted that all Iranian nuclear facilities that were hit by Israel and then by the United States were under the supervision and protection of the IAEA, which did nothing to prevent these attacks.