The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) concluded that Iran conducted nuclear weapons-related research until 2003 and to a lesser extent until 2009, but found no evidence of development of Nuclear weapons since 2009.
Advertisement
Tuesday’s IAEA decision removes an important obstacle to implementing July’s landmark deal with world powers on scaling down Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. The agreement was signed in July by Iran and the E3/EU+3 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the U.S. plus the European Union) and adopted in October. Security Council resolution 1929, still in force, prohibits this kind of launch. “And the legacy of mistrust between Iran and the global community must be overcome”.
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has said the closure of the PMD (possible military dimensions to Tehran’s nuclear program) file is a “political victory”.
Under the JCPOA Iran pledged never under any circumstances to seek, develop or acquire nuclear weapons, and the UN Security Council is to consider ending sanctions imposed for its NPT violations once it receives IAEAs report on verification. “Iran is developing ICBM capabilities, and the sole goal of an Iranian ICBM is to enable delivery of a nuclear weapon to the United States”.
The resolution will bring an end to a 12-year probe into Tehran’s nuclear program, acknowledging that the Islamic Republic’s nuclear activity is peaceful – a key step towards lifting worldwide sanctions on the country. “This issue has a long and complex history, and the legacy of mistrust between Iran and the worldwide community must be overcome”.
Despite Iranian denials, the USA and its allies continue to believe that Tehran did work on components of a nuclear weapon.
“The panel assesses that the launch of the Emad has a range of no less than 1,000 kilometers with a payload of at least 1,000 kilograms and that Emad was a launch ‘using ballistic missile technology, ‘” the report said. The IAEA keeps close tabs on Iran’s nuclear programme, and its inspections role is set to grow under July’s hard-fought deal, which defused a standoff dating back to 2002.
Iran’s Minister of Defense Hussien Dehghan told Iranian media that Emad is the first surface-to-surface ballistic missile fully designed and built by Iran, and can be precision-guided until it reaches its target.
Chief Iranian delegate Reza Najafi on Tuesday denied such work, in keeping with his country’s constant line during the protracted probe. Iran insists that its missiles are not capable of carrying nuclear weapons, the AP reported.
The report by the chair of the Iran Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Román Oyarzunttee, cited another investigation by the panel into an allegation that Iran attempted to procure titanium alloy bars, which can withstand extreme temperatures and be used in military and space equipment, in violation of sanctions.
Security Council resolution 1929 was created in 2010 and bans Iran from engaging in ballistic missile tests.
Advertisement
The United States is also looking at reports of a new ballistic missile test on November 24.
