Iran’s refusal to allow inspectors to access a site in Iran where centrifuge components are produced is escalating tensions ahead of the resumption of talks to restore the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) most recent report on Iran’s nuclear activities, finalized Nov. 17, inspectors tried twice in October to access the Karaj centrifuge component manufacturing facility to install new cameras and/or confirm that production of parts had not resumed. On both occasions, Iran refused to allow the IAEA to visit the facility. Iran similarly refused access to inspectors in September, but the situation is more serious now as reports suggest that the Karaj facility has resumed operations and is producing centrifuge components. This failure to cooperate puts at risk efforts to restore the deal by creating gaps in the monitoring record of Iran’s nuclear program which make it more difficult—if not impossible—to restore the JCPOA’s verification regime and drives speculation of illicit activities in Iran.
The IAEA has not been able to inspect the site since February when Iran reduced compliance with the JCPOA’s monitoring provisions as part of its campaign to pressure the United States back into the nuclear deal. However, under a special arrangement negotiated between Tehran and the agency, the IAEA was able to retain cameras at that site (and others) with the understanding that the agency will receive the recorded data once the JCPOA is restored. Iran removed the cameras from Karaj in June after they were damaged in an attack on the facility. The IAEA maintains that it should have been able to install new cameras under a Sept. 12 agreement between the agency and Iran that allowed inspectors to service surveillance equipment at certain nuclear facilities, but Tehran claims the Karaj site was not covered in that deal.
In an Oct. 28 letter to the IAEA, Iran said it was “investigating whether the terrorists have used the Agency cameras to launch an attack on the complex,” presumably referring to the June sabotage that damaged the cameras, and requested the IAEA’s cooperation with that investigation.
In the Nov. 17 report, the IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said he “categorically rejects” the idea that the agency’s cameras could have aided in an attack and offered to let Iran inspect the cameras in the presence of IAEA inspectors.
The report does not say that Iran has resumed operations at Karaj, but the IAEA does note the installation of more than 170 advanced IR-6 centrifuges at its Fordow uranium enrichment facility since the last IAEA report was issued in September. A Nov. 16 article in The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran resumed operations at Karaj in August and had since produced components for about 170 centrifuges.
This suggests that some of the IR-6 centrifuge components at Fordow could have been produced at Karaj. But regardless of whether the site is the source of IR-6 centrifuges, any un-monitored production at the facility raises concerns and will undoubtedly give rise to speculation that Iran is producing centrifuges for illicit purposes.
Operation of the facility without cameras present will also make it more difficult for the agency to maintain its understanding of Iran’s nuclear program and reconstruct its history if the JCPOA is restored.
In October, Grossi warned of the importance of restoring IAEA cameras at Karaj before operations resumed at the facility. The Nov. 17 report again emphasized that it is “indispensable” for the IAEA to have the access necessary to maintain continuity of knowledge to be in a position to resume the monitoring and verification required by the JCPOA if the deal is restored.
Additionally, Iran’s failure to cooperate with the IAEA increases the likelihood that the IAEA’s Board of Governors will pursue a resolution censuring Iran at its meeting next week—an action that could complicate talks to restore the JCPOA. Iran narrowly avoided such a censure at the last board meeting by striking the Sept. 12 access agreement that the IAEA argues should include reinstallation of cameras at Karaj. In a Nov. 18 statement, French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Anne-Claire Legendre said that the IAEA board must send a “strong message” that Iran must “return without delay to fulfilling all its commitments and obligations to the IAEA.” While pursuing a resolution censuring Iran is appropriate given Tehran’s failure to cooperate with the agency, states may be reluctant to do so given that talks to restore the JCPOA are set to resume Nov. 29. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi warned in September that any action by the IAEA board would have negative implications for talks on the JCPOA.
At Fordow, the newly-installed advanced centrifuges, if made operational, will significantly increase Iran’s enrichment capacity at the hardened facility, given that the IR-6 machines are significantly more efficient in enriching uranium than the IR-1s. Iran also has limited experience with IR-6 enrichment, so the continued production, installation, and operation adds to the knowledge Iran gains that cannot be reversed if the JCPOA is restored. Creative solutions can still mitigate the proliferation risk caused by these knowledge gains and allow for the nonproliferation benefits of the JCPOA to be restored, but the more knowledge Iran gains, the more challenging it will be to negotiate those solutions.
While the IR-6 and Karaj developments are the most concerning aspects of the Nov. 17 report, the IAEA also noted that Iran’s stockpiles of uranium enriched to higher levels continue to grow. Iran’s stockpile of uranium gas enriched to 20 percent grew from 84.8 kilograms (by uranium weight) to 113.8 kilograms (by uranium weight). While any growth in this stockpile is concerning, Iran’s production of 20 percent did slow in comparison to the last quarter. According to the IAEA’s report, Iran continues to enrich uranium to 20 percent at Fordow, but it did not stockpile any material enriched to that level at the pilot plant at Natanz, which had been used previously to produce and stockpile uranium enriched to that level.
The stockpile of 60 percent grew from 10 kilograms (by uranium weight) in September to 17.7 (by uranium weight) in the Nov. 17 report. Iran modified its production method for enriching uranium to this level in mid-August, which has led to an increase in its average monthly production of uranium enriched to 60 percent when compared to the last quarterly report.
The growth in the 20 and 60 stockpiles is particularly troublesome as these levels are much closer to weapons-grade uranium (above 90 percent). Enriching to 20 percent, for instance, constitutes about 90 percent of the necessary work to enrich to weapons-grade. As the stockpiles grow, Iran’s breakout, or the time it would take to produce enough uranium enriched to weapons-grade for one bomb, decreases. Currently, Iran’s breakout is likely about one month (down from 12 months when the JCPOA was fully implemented). If Iran continues to produce 20 percent at a similar rate, it will likely have enough that, when enriched to weapons-grade, is enough for one weapon as of the IAEA’s next quarterly report (expected late February/early March). That will further decrease breakout.
Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched from 2-5 percent was down slightly since the prior report, to 1,622 kilograms (by uranium weight), and its stockpile of uranium enriched to 2 percent grew slightly to 559 kilograms (uranium by weight). Flux in these stockpiles, however, does not have an impact on short-term proliferation risk or breakout time. Stockpile growth in the 2-5 percent level, however, would decrease the time it would take for Iran to produce enough weapons-grade uranium for additional bombs.
The Nov. 17 report also noted that, for the first time, Iran has breached the JCPOA’s limit on 5,060 IR-1 centrifuges (30 cascades) at its Natanz enrichment plant. The IAEA reported that Iran had installed another cascade of IR-1 and completed some of the preparatory work for another five cascades. That would bring the total number of cascades to 36. If Iran completes the installation, it will have about 6,050 IR-1 machines at that facility. (For more details on the Nov. 17 IAEA report see below).
While former President Donald Trump manufactured this crisis by recklessly withdrawing the United States from the JCPOA in May 2018, reimposing sanctions in violation of the deal, and pursuing a pressure campaign designed to rob Iran of any benefit of remaining in the accord—all despite Iran’s compliance with its obligations—Tehran’s actions are now putting efforts to restore the deal at risk. The prolonged delay in a return to negotiations in Vienna, the failure to cooperate with the IAEA, and continued violations of the JCPOA that cannot be reversed all jeopardize the stated goal of both Tehran and Washington: to restore full compliance with the nuclear deal.
To lower tensions ahead of the Nov. 29 resumption of talks it would behoove both sides to send signals of a willingness to engage in good faith efforts to restore the deal. Grossi’s visit to Tehran Nov. 23 provides an opening for Iran and the IAEA to address the Karaj monitoring crisis. Dealing with that issue would likely help address some of the agency’s concerns about maintaining the knowledge necessary to restore JCPOA monitoring and help prevent speculation about the diversion of centrifuges from having a spoiler effect.
While the Biden administration may be reluctant to make gestures now that could be perceived in Tehran as justifying the continued pursuit of leverage by further ratcheting up nuclear activities, the United States could consider humanitarian steps, particularly related to covid-19 assistance.
Diplomacy is the only viable option to address the Iranian nuclear crisis and restoration of the JCPOA is the most straightforward path to bring sanctions relief to Iran and roll back the proliferation risk posed by Tehran’s growing nuclear program. It is in the best interest of both sides to ensure that the Vienna talks succeed—and quickly.
Additional details from the Nov. 17 IAEA report:
The IAEA does not determine Iran’s compliance with the JCPOA, but the Agency’s most recent report indicates that Iran continues to violate the following restrictions on its nuclear activities that were agreed to in the nuclear deal:
- Breached the limit on enriching uranium to no more than 3.67 percent uranium-235 for 15 years. The IAEA first verified that Iran exceeded the 3.67 percent uranium-235 enrichment limit and began enriching uranium to 4.5 percent in June 2019. According to the Nov. 17 report, Iran continues to enrich and stockpile uranium up to 5, 20, and 60 percent uranium-235.
- Breached the stockpile limit of 300 kilograms of uranium hexafluoride gas (Uf6) enriched to 3.67 percent (about 202 kilograms of uranium by weight) for 15 years. In May 2019, Iran stated that it would no longer be bound by the JCPOA’s 300-kilogram stockpile cap and the IAEA verified that Iran breached that limit in July 2019.
According to the IAEA’s Nov. 17 report, Iran’s total enriched uranium stockpile equates to 2,489.7 kilograms of uranium by weight, representing a 48.4-kilogram increase from the last reporting period.
Of the 2,489.7 kilograms, 2,313.4 kilograms are in gas form, 125.4 kilograms are in the form of uranium oxides, 35.4 kilograms are in fuel assemblies and rods, and 15.5 kilograms are in liquid and solid scrap.
Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile in the form of UF6 (measured by uranium weight) is comprised of:
- 559.6 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 2 percent (+55.8 kilograms from the previous report),
- 1,622.3 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 5 percent (-152.5 kilograms),
- 113.8 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 20 percent (+29.5 kilograms),
- 17.7 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60 percent (+7.7 kilograms).
Iran’s stockpile of 5 percent enriched uranium decreased in size over the last reporting period because about 103 kilograms were converted into uranium oxides and used as feed to produce uranium enriched to higher levels.
- Breached the prohibition on any uranium activities, including enrichment, at Fordow for 15 years. Iran began enriching uranium to 4.5 percent uranium-235 at Fordow in November 2019. Since then, the IAEA has verified that Iran continues to enrich and stockpile uranium at the Fordow facility using 1,044 IR-1 centrifuges. In January 2021, the IAEA observed the reconfiguration of the centrifuges into three sets of two interconnected cascades, which were fed with 5 percent uranium-235 and used to produce 20 percent enriched uranium. The Agency’s Nov. 17 report verifies that Iran continues to use the same configuration at Fordow but notes Iran’s plan to use a total of eight cascades at Fordow: two cascades of IR-6 centrifuges to enrich natural uranium to 5 percent, to be fed into the three sets of two interconnected IR-1 cascades to produce 20 percent enriched uranium. The use of interconnected cascades is prohibited by the JCPOA.
According to its November 17 report, the IAEA verified that in addition to the operational IR-1 machines, Iran installed a cascade of 166 IR-6 centrifuges, as well as another chain of 23 IR-6 machines.
- Breached restrictions on the number of advanced centrifuges installed and the 10-year prohibition on accumulating enriched uranium from advanced machines. Last year, Iran informed the Agency of its intent to install a total of 19 cascades at Natanz, comprised of six using IR-1 centrifuges, six using IR-2m centrifuges, six using IR-4 centrifuges, and one using IR-6 centrifuges, in addition to the 30 cascades of 5,060 IR-1 centrifuges already installed and permitted by the JCPOA.
The IAEA’s Nov. 17 report notes that Iran continues to test, operate, and accumulate enriched uranium from the advanced model centrifuges at the Natanz enrichment facility. Specifically, the IAEA found that:
At the Natanz fuel enrichment plant:
- As of Nov. 13, Iran is enriching uranium to 5 percent using 31 cascades of IR-1 centrifuges, six cascades of IR-2m centrifuges, and two cascades of IR-4 centrifuges. The Agency also observed that while Iran installed a thirty-first cascade of IR-1 machines, the planned installation of the remaining four IR-4 cascades, five IR-1 cascades, and the single cascade of IR-6 centrifuges had yet to begin. Preparatory work is underway for some of these cascades.
At the Natanz pilot fuel enrichment plant:
- As of Nov. 8, Iran had fed 5 percent enriched uranium into two cascades comprised of 164 IR-4 and I64 IR-6 centrifuges, respectively, to produce uranium enriched up to 60 percent. According to the IAEA, Iran is feeding the tails produced from these two cascades into cascades of IR-5 and IR-6s centrifuges to produce uranium enriched up to 5 percent.
- From Oct. 25-Nov. 8, the IAEA verified that Iran was feeding uranium enriched to 20 percent into one single IR-6 centrifuge, one cascade of 10 IR-6 centrifuges, and one single IR-4 centrifuge, but the product and tails are being recombined so this is not contributing to stockpile growth.*
- The IAEA observed that Iran continued to accumulate uranium enriched up to 2 percent uranium-235 from cascades of nine IR-4 centrifuges, five IR-5 centrifuges, five IR-6 centrifuges, ten IR-6 centrifuges, and 19 IR-6 centrifuges. According to the Agency, a portion of these centrifuges stopped producing enriched uranium Oct. 23, while the others continued throughout the reporting period.
- As of Nov. 8, Iran is continuing to produce uranium enriched up to 2 percent using 18 IR-1 centrifuges and 33 IR-2m centrifuges.
- Breached the prohibition on uranium metal production for 10 years. Iran informed the IAEA of its intention to produce uranium metal in December 2020. On May 18, the Agency verified that Iran produced 2.42 kilograms of natural uranium metal from 3.1 kilograms of natural uranium. From that, Iran used 0.85 kilograms to produce 0.54 kilograms of uranium in the form of uranium silicide. On Oct. 25, the IAEA verified that Iran had produced two batches of uranium silicide containing 0.43 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 20 percent.
The Agency’s Nov. 17 report confirms that Iran has completed the four-stage process to produce new fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor and that it had manufactured two fuel plates using uranium silicide containing 0.25 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 20 percent, as of Nov. 2.
The Agency verified that as of Nov. 3, Iran had produced 17 fuel assemblies for the Tehran Research Reactor, four of which had already been transferred to the reactor.
- Suspended monitoring and verification provisions required by the nuclear deal. Iran suspended implementation of the additional protocol to its safeguards agreement Feb. 23, 2021. While Iran and the IAEA reached a joint arrangement Feb. 21 that allowed the Agency to remotely continue its necessary additional safeguards activities in Iran for three months, that agreement expired June 24, after it was extended for one month May 24. The monitoring equipment was due for service Aug. 24. While Iran allowed inspectors to access some of the equipment following a Sept. 12 agreement with the IAEA, it barred the Agency from accessing the Karaj centrifuge component manufacturing facility.
In July, the IAEA wrote a letter to Tehran requesting confirmation on the status of the four surveillance cameras that were installed at the centrifuge component manufacturing workshop at Iran’s TESA Karaj complex. Tehran granted the Agency access on Sept. 4. Inspectors found that of the four cameras, two remained intact while one had been severely damaged and the other destroyed. The Agency noted that the data storage and the recording unit from the destroyed camera were not present in the remnants provided to inspectors.
The IAEA was able to recover the data storage components from the two intact cameras and the damaged camera but has been yet unable to read and interpret the data. According to the November report, “the remnants of the destroyed camera – minus the recording unit and storage media or any fragments thereof – and the three other cameras previously installed in the workshop have been placed under Agency and AEOI seal.”
Seeking to replace the cameras at Karaj, the IAEA sent Iran a letter indicating that the access agreement reached Sept. 12 did not exclude the Karaj workshop and requesting immediate access to the facility. According to the Nov. 17 report, the Agency sought access to the Karaj facility on two separate occasions in October, but Iran neglected to cooperate.
- Heavy Water Production: The JCPOA caps Iran’s heavy water stockpile at 130 metric tons. The IAEA has not had access to Iran’s heavy water production or its heavy water stockpile since Feb. 23, 2021, when Tehran restricted IAEA access under the December 2020 nuclear law. In its previous report, released Sept. 7, the IAEA noted that there were indications that Iran’s heavy water production plant continued to operate after June 24.
The Nov. 17 report also suggests that Iran continues to meet the following provisions of the accord:
- Conversion of the Arak Reactor: Iran has still not pursued the construction of the Arak reactor based on its original design.
*An earlier version of this blog stated that Iran was producing 20 percent enriched uranium using these machines. It has been corrected to say that Iran was using 20 percent enriched uranium as the feed.