IAEA: Iran is not cooperating with nuclear monitors

Iran’s new government continued to dramatically increase production of highly enriched uranium while failing to resume full cooperation with international monitors, signaling a new round of escalation awaits officials when they convene this month to discuss the country’s atomic program.

International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors reported Tuesday that the Islamic Republic increased its stockpile of uranium enriched close to the levels needed for weapons and was expanding its production capacity. It also continued to restrict monitoring of facilities and an investigation into allegedly undeclared activities.

It’s the first IAEA report issued since hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi assumed the presidency last month.

“Iran’s failure to respond to the agency’s requests for access to its monitoring equipment is seriously compromising the agency’s technical capability,” the IAEA wrote in a 16-page restricted document seen by Bloomberg. A second seven-page restricted report reiterated the IAEA’s deeply concerned that nuclear material has been present at undeclared locations.

“The agency’s confidence that it can maintain continuity of knowledge is declining over time and has now significantly further declined,” the IAEA warned. “This confidence will continue to decline unless th situation is immediately rectified by Iran.”

The reports are likely to renew pressure on international envoys to the IAEA to formally censure Iran when they meet Sept. 13 in Vienna. A resolution condemning Iran’s nuclear activities and lack of cooperation could eventually end up at the United Nations Security Council.

Iranian officials have warned that such a move could dim the prospects for broader talks designed to resurrect a 2015 deal with world powers. The agreement reined in Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief until the Trump administration withdrew and reimposed penalties, and Iran retaliated by breaking limits on its enrichment.

Negotiations to restore the pact, also held in Vienna, halted earlier this year as Iran prepared to elect a new president, and are yet to resume. In the meantime, Tehran has been racing ahead with its atomic activities while securing the economic support of China and Russia.