Richard Parks Iran’s plans to significantly boost its uranium enrichment are raising serious international concerns, according to Rafael Mariano Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Speaking at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, Grossi warned that Iran’s installation of 6,000 advanced centrifuges could lead to a “dramatic” increase in its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Currently, Iran enriches uranium to 60%, just shy of the 90% required for weapons-grade material.
“This is very concerning,” Grossi stated. “If all these centrifuges are activated, it will represent a huge leap in enrichment capacity.”
Space Launch Sparks Tensions
Iran’s announcement follows the successful launch of a Simorgh rocket, its most advanced payload carrier to date. Although Tehran insists its space program is peaceful, critics argue such tests bolster its ballistic missile capabilities.
Western nations, including the UK, remain deeply skeptical. MI6 chief Richard Moore recently described Iran’s nuclear ambitions as a “threat to all of us,” despite the setbacks its regional allies in Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza have faced.
Adding to the uncertainty is the imminent inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump. Trump has pledged to reimpose his “maximum pressure” policy on Iran, which previously saw the US withdraw from the 2015 nuclear agreement, a major diplomatic achievement of former President Barack Obama.
Grossi’s remarks highlight the growing urgency to address Iran’s nuclear activities and their potential impact on regional and global security.