Vienna: Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.) Rafael Grossi has emphasized that uranium enrichment is not inherently a prohibited activity, adding that Iran’s current stockpile of enriched uranium does not amount to the material needed for a nuclear weapon.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Grossi stated at a press conference in Vienna that uranium enrichment, in itself, is not a forbidden activity, a point often highlighted by his Iranian counterparts. However, he cautioned that when a country accumulates enriched uranium at levels very close to what is required for a nuclear explosive device, it cannot be ignored.

He further explained that enriched uranium alone does not make a nuclear weapon, as the construction of such a device requires intricate mechanisms, including triggers and other sophisticated components.

Grossi was also questioned about the potential impact of an I.A.E.A. Board of Governors resolution against Iran on the ongoing Tehran-Washington talks. He noted that while there is no formal link between the two, there is an obvious interrelation and mutual influence.

In discussing the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (J.C.P.O.A.), Grossi remarked that the agreement was designed for a specific type of Iranian program, which has evolved. Even if revived, the J.C.P.O.A. would be insufficient due to new technologies developed by Iran.