Intelligence Reports Reveal Iran Closer To Nuclear Capability As International Response Remains Weak

(New York, N.Y.) — Last week, translated reports from German, Swedish, and Danish security agencies revealed that the Islamic Republic of Iran is moving closer to achieving nuclear-weapons capabilities. These developments follow years of failure by the U.S. and European powers to hold Iran accountable for its violations of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231, including of limitations on the development of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, and of restrictions Iran agreed to on uranium enrichment in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Later this year, the U.N. restrictions on Iran’s development of ballistic missiles will sunset unless the E3 decide to invoke the snapback sanctions mechanism.  

The Netherlands General and Intelligence Security Service (AVID) identified growing stockpiles of 20 percent and 60 percent enriched uranium, significantly higher than the 3.67 percent enrichment requirement outlined in the JCPOA. The report also highlighted that "Iran is further ignoring the agreements that were made within the framework of the JCPOA. And by deploying increasingly more sophisticated uranium enrichment centrifuges, it is enlarging its enrichment capacity. This brings the option of a possible [Iranian] first nuclear test closer."

Concern among the international community is also growing rapidly. Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is responsible for monitoring Iran's nuclear program, recently said cooperation with Iran is "not at the level that [he] would prefer." Despite Iran’s clear disregard for sanctions and the JCPOA, the U.K., France, and Germany (the E3) and the Biden administration continue to take a soft position on Iran’s nuclear program. The E3 has indicated it will not pursue snapback unless Iran enriches uranium to 90 percent purity. Rather than formulate a comprehensive strategy on the international stage, the Biden Administration has attempted to seek a new “understanding” with Iran in an apparent attempt to sidestep the 2015 Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA), which requires congressional review of any agreement and prevents the president from suspending existing statutory sanctions against Iran.  

United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) has long opposed any deal that continues to provide a pathway for Iran to acquire nuclear weapons; accepts temporary, ineffective restrictions; and further emboldens a regime responsible for countless human rights abuses. According to a poll last year, 60 percent of American voters opposed making any deal with Iran. As UANI chairman and former Senator Joseph I. Lieberman recently wrote, Congress must use the powers vested in the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA) to set clear and enforceable expectations for any nuclear deal.  

To learn more about The Iran Nuclear Deal, please click here. 

To learn more about Iran’s Ballistic Missile Program, please click here. 

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