Nuclear watchdog chief says Iran ‘galloping ahead’ with uranium enrichment

Iran is “galloping ahead” with its uranium enrichment programme and continues to put up barriers to inspections, the head of the global nuclear watchdog has said.

Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, stressed that Tehran must abide by the nuclear proliferation treaty it signed up to.

“Iran is the only non-nuclear weapon state which is enriching uranium at this very, very high level – very close to weapons grade,” he told media.

“I’m not saying they have a nuclear weapon, I’m saying this is sensitive. And when you’re doing that … you abide by the rules,” he said.

The IAEA’s latest report found Iran has increased the rate at which it is producing near weapons-grade uranium, reversing a slowdown that started in mid-2023.

Mr Grossi said Iran’s push for high-grade uranium comes at a time of huge tension in the Middle East, with the war in Gaza fuelling hostility towards Israel and its allies.

Daily barrages of missiles and drones fired by the Iran-backed Houthi group in Yemen have created an international shipping and security crisis in the Red Sea.

Mr Grossi said dialogue remains open with Iran, which has claimed its programme is for civilian use – even amid sabre-rattling against Israel and other adversaries.

“A snapshot shows a programme which is galloping ahead, moving ahead with ambitious goals. We have nothing against that. But we say the visibility of the international inspectorate, the IAEA, must be commensurate with those activities.”

Western powers say otherwise – that Tehran wants nuclear weapons to threaten its enemies.

Even if Iran’s nuclear programme is intended for civilian use, Mr Grossi said, it is not abiding by its obligations.

“Iran is party to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, they should abide by this commitment,” he said.