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IAEA closes investigation despite conclusion that Iran worked on nuclear weapons
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) yesterday voted to close its long-running investigation into possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear programme, even though its own report concluded that a weapons programme did exist until 2003, continuing sporadically until 2009. Iran has always claimed that its nuclear work was purely for peaceful purposes.
The 35-nation IAEA board’s vote yesterday came despite the body’s report which was recently published and concluded that “a range of activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device were conducted in Iran prior to the end of 2003 as a coordinated effort, and some activities took place after 2003.” The report said that Iran attempted to acquire the technical capability to develop nuclear weapons. In particular, concerns were raised over Iranian experiments with exploding bridgewire detonators, which generate the critical fissile mass for a nuclear weapon, and attempts to hide work at the Parchin site, where experts suspect Iran carried out explosive tests.
Yesterday’s vote paves the way for the implementation of the July accord agreed between Iran and the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany), which will likely see Iran curb its nuclear development over the next ten years in return for easing international sanctions. US Secretary of State John Kerry praised the board’s decision, saying it will allow the IAEA to “turn its focus now to the full implementation and verification” of July’s agreement.
However, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said that the IAEA report “clearly indicates once again that Iran has conducted a coordinated effort to develop a nuclear device.” Given that “serious doubts” over Iran’s nuclear programme remain, the ministry urged the IAEA “to resolve all outstanding issues and verify the peaceful nature of Iran’s programme.”
In a separate development, a report by United Nations (UN) experts concluded that Iran breached existing sanctions by carrying out ballistic missile tests in October. It remains unclear whether the UN Security Council will take any action over the violation.