Iran has stayed within the limits of a nuclear deal it agreed with six world powers previous year on its stockpiles of uranium and heavy water, two chemicals that could be used in an atomic weapons programme, the United Nations nuclear agency said on Thursday.
Advertisement
But the report by the International Atomic Energy Agency released on September 8 also said Iran had begun manufacturing rotor tubes for centrifuges, machines used to enrich uranium. Iran kept its nuclear jalopy running decades longer than expected by scrounging for spare parts and by finding ways around worldwide sanctions.
The confidential report obtained by The Associated Press said “related technical discussions” on the issue are ongoing.
In April, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano had hailed Iran for respecting the nuclear accord, saying the Islamic Republic has even gone beyond its obligations.
A senior diplomat familiar with the nuclear deal said details would be shared with the IAEA’s governing board, which includes the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany – the six powers that struck the deal with Iran previous year.
Advertisement
In exchange, punishing global sanctions on Iran were lifted.
