IAEA chief says time running out to reach Iran nuclear deal

MUNICH: Time is running out to secure an accord to rein in Iran’s nuclear programme as Tehran continues to accelerate its enrichment of uranium to near weapons grade, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said on Friday.

Iran has stepped up nuclear work since 2019, after US President Donald Trump in his first term abandoned a 2015 agreement reached under predecessor Barack Obama.

With nuclear diplomacy stalled, the spotlight has turned on Trump and how he intends to handle the dossier. So far there has been little clear policy on the issue, and Iran has continued to advance its nuclear programme, accelerating enrichment of uranium to up to 60 percent purity, close to the roughly 90 percent of weapons grade.

“I think we are running out of time, but it doesn’t mean that we can’t do it fast,” International Atomic Energy Agency chief Grossi said in an interview on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

“The IAEA is there and has all the information and elements, but when it comes to the policy it’s up to the countries.” Grossi said Iran was in the process of increasing around sevenfold its monthly production of uranium enriched to up to 60 percent.

He said Iran would likely have about 250 kg of uranium enriched to up to 60 percent by the time of the agency’s next report in the coming weeks.