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Just ran: IAEA samples taken from the two sites Iran blocked for much of last year have come back from labs showing traces of radioactive material, diplomats say https://www.wsj.com/articles/iran-u-n-inspectors-find-radioactive-traces-raising-fresh-concerns-11612567304
Diplomats say @iaeaorg has not yet reported findings to member states and is following standard practice in seeking explanations first from Iran. News comes ahead of Feb. 21 Iran deadline to stop applying Additional Protocol, restricting inspectors' access -2-
No detail yet on material. Reminder that uranium particles, including enriched ones, found at Turquz Abad site started as "radioactive material" before defined further by IAEA. Also reminder, @rafaelmgrossi slammed Iran in Nov for still not answering questions about that find-3-
The findings start to answer some of these questions for #Iran raised by IAEA in June report. "One suspicion was drilling of a uranium metal disc that could be used to create material for a neutron initiator, experts say, a key component of a nuclear weapon." -4-
A 2nd suspicion was that nuclear material had been introduced at a site where Iran may have tested high explosives that can be used to detonate a nuclear weapon.
The agency is also asking about undeclared site where illicit uranium conversion and processing may have taken place-5
The agency is also asking about undeclared site where illicit uranium conversion and processing may have taken place-5
Reminder what @rafaelmgrossi told us last July, before his Tehran trip where #Iran agreed access to the two blocked sites. “I keep insisting on the absolute necessity for us to resolve this issue very soon,” he said. This “isn’t going to go away.” -6-
Also Iran will likely giving @iaeaorg reminder of August joint statement. "In this present context, based on analysis of available information to the IAEA, the IAEA does not have further questions to Iran and further requests for access to locations" https://www.wsj.com/articles/iran-u-n-inspectors-find-radioactive-traces-raising-fresh-concerns-11612567304 -7-
A stern reminder, however, to all readers that the activities at these sites that IAEA was asking about mainly happened in 1990s and 2000s. No evidence undeclared nuclear material from more recent work. Certainly not proof of a current weapons program. -8-
