Flashpoints

IAEA Report on Iran

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Flashpoints

IAEA Report on Iran

Iran may have undertaken preparatory experimentation useful for a nuclear explosive device test, the IAEA says.

Following are some of the key extracts from the International Atomic Energy Agency’s new report on Iran’s nuclear program, a copy of which has been obtained by The Diplomat.

“Under its Safeguards Agreement, Iran has declared to the Agency 15 nuclear facilities and nine

locations outside facilities where nuclear material is customarily used (LOFs).Notwithstanding that certain of the activities being undertaken by Iran at some of the facilities are contrary to the relevant resolutions of the Board of Governors and the Security Council, as indicated below, the Agency continues to implement safeguards at these facilities and LOFs.

“Contrary to the relevant resolutions of the Board of Governors and the Security Council, Iran has not suspended its enrichment related activities in the following declared facilities, all of which are nevertheless under Agency safeguards.”

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“Iran has estimated that, between 18 October 2010 and 1 November 2011, it produced 1787 kg of low enriched UF, which would result in a total production of 4922 kg of low enriched UFsince production began in February 2007.9 The nuclear material at FEP (including the feed, product and tails), as well as all installed cascades and the feed and withdrawal stations, are subject to Agency containment and surveillance.The consequences for safeguards of the seal breakage in the feed and withdrawal areawill be evaluated by the Agency upon completion of its assessment of the PIV.

“Based on the results of the analysis of environmental samples taken at FEP since February 2007and other verification activities, the Agency has concluded that the facility has operated as declared byIran in the Design Information Questionnaire (DIQ).”

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“The Agency is still awaiting a substantive response from Iran to Agency requests for further information in relation to announcements made by Iran concerning the construction of ten new uranium enrichment facilities, the sites for five of which, according to Iran, have been decided, and the construction of one of which was to have begun by the end of the last Iranian year (20 March 2011) or the start of this Iranian year…As a result of Iran’s lack of cooperation on those issues, the Agency is unable to verify and report fully on these matters.”

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“Contrary to the relevant resolutions of the Board of Governors and the Security Council, Iran has not suspended work on all heavy water related projects, including the construction of the heavy water moderated research reactor, the Iran Nuclear Research Reactor (IR-40 Reactor), which is subject to Agency safeguards.”

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“Previous reports by the Director General have identified outstanding issues related to possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear programme and actions required of Iran to resolve these.Since 2002, the Agency has become increasingly concerned about the possible existence in Iran of undisclosed nuclear related activities involving military related organizations, including activities related to the development of a nuclear payload for a missile, about which the Agency has regularly received new information.

“Information provided to the Agency by two Member States relating to modelling studies alleged to have been conducted in 2008 and 2009 by Iran is of particular concern to the Agency. According to that information, the studies involved the modelling of spherical geometries, consisting of components of the core of an HEU nuclear device subjected to shock compression, for their neutronic behaviour at high density, and a determination of the subsequent nuclear explosive yield. The information also identifies models said to have been used in those studies and the results of these calculations, which the Agency has seen. The application of such studies to anything other than a nuclear explosive is unclear to the Agency. It is therefore essential that Iran engage with the Agency and provide an explanation.”

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“The Agency has information provided by a Member State that Iran may have planned and undertaken preparatory experimentation which would be useful were Iran to carry out a test of a nuclear explosive device. In particular, the Agency has information that Iran has conducted a number of practical tests to see whether its EBW firing equipment would function satisfactorily over long distances between a firing point and a test device located down a deep shaft. Additionally, among the alleged studies documentation provided by that Member State, is a document, in Farsi, which relates directly to the logistics and safety arrangements that would be necessary for conducting a nuclear test. The Agency has been informed by a different Member State that these arrangements directly reflect those which have been used in nuclear tests conducted by nuclear-weapon States.”