The head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog is set to travel to Iran next week as the country's nuclear program continues to enrich uranium, raising concerns about its proximity to weapons-grade levels and the limited international oversight in place.
The visit by the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) comes at a critical time, coinciding with a nuclear energy conference that Iran will host in Isfahan, a city with sensitive enrichment sites that was recently targeted in an apparent Israeli attack.
Iran's nuclear ambitions have been a source of regional tensions, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and attacks on shipping by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The IAEA chief's visit to Iran is scheduled for May 6 and 7, with details of his itinerary and meetings yet to be disclosed by the Vienna-based agency.
Iranian state television has announced the conference in Isfahan as an “international conference on nuclear sciences and techniques,” with the head of Iran's civilian nuclear program expressing optimism about resolving ambiguities and strengthening relations with the IAEA within the framework of safeguards and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Tensions between Iran and the IAEA have escalated since the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal in 2018, prompting Iran to abandon the deal's restrictions on its nuclear program. The IAEA has warned that Iran now possesses enough enriched uranium for potential nuclear weapons.
Surveillance cameras at Iranian nuclear sites have faced disruptions, and Iran has restricted access to experienced IAEA inspectors. Iranian officials have hinted at the possibility of pursuing atomic weapons, particularly following recent hostilities with Israel.
Despite Iran's claims that its nuclear program is solely for civilian purposes, U.S. intelligence agencies and the IAEA have evidence of Iran's past military nuclear activities up to 2003.
The latest U.S. intelligence assessment indicates that Iran is not currently engaged in key nuclear weapons development activities required for a testable nuclear device.
As tensions persist, the international community remains vigilant about Iran's nuclear intentions and the need for robust oversight to prevent any potential proliferation of nuclear weapons.
