Iran is preparing its response to the US proposal delivered to Tehran by Oman’s foreign minister, Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi said during a cabinet meeting on Sunday, where he briefed ministers on the ongoing nuclear talks.
Iran could enrich uranium to weapons-grade within a week and carry out a nuclear test within a couple of months, Israeli daily Haaretz reported on Sunday, citing a Western source with detailed knowledge of the UN nuclear watchdog's latest report.
“In February or March, they had around 270 kilograms. Now they have about 400,” Haaretz quoted the source as saying. “That's a 50 percent increase – definitely a massive jump. Typically, such a stockpile would be amassed over a period of two years. Now they've accumulated it in just three months.”
Assuming Iran has the necessary facilities, the source added that Tehran could further enrich uranium from 60 percent to weapons-grade 90 percent “within a week, easily.”
The source clarified that this “doesn't mean they have a nuclear weapon,” but said in his assessment, “they could conduct a nuclear test within a couple of months.”
He also cited a second IAEA report, saying it includes “a very clear statement, for the first time, that Iran didn't declare part of its nuclear material and that the IAEA doesn't know what Iran is doing with it.”
“Clearly, they have something to hide,” the source added.
Iran is building a fully domestic nuclear power plant using indigenous fuel and engineering, the country’s nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami said on Sunday, calling it a symbol of national pride and industrial strength.
“Relying on domestic capabilities, we are building a fully Iranian nuclear power plant with indigenous fuel,” Eslami said on state television.
“This is a source of national pride and a reflection of the country’s industrial strength, driven forward by the nation’s engineering community.”
Eslami ruled out any rollback of uranium enrichment, saying “a return to zero in the nuclear industry is neither logical nor meaningful.”
He also said the Bushehr plant is being constructed with foreign cooperation and that Iran will pursue more power plants in partnership with international companies.
"As part of the plan to develop 20,000 megawatts of nuclear power, we will utilize the capacities of qualified countries and companies," Eslami said.
"The UN nuclear watchdog's chief Rafael Grossi, driven by his ambitions and a strong desire to become the UN secretary-general, is seeking to gain the approval of a few specific countries and align himself with their goals," Iran's nuclear chief said on Sunday.
"This has caused the overall tone of his reports to be politically motivated," Mohammad Eslami told the state TV, referring to the latest report by the International Atomic Energy Agency which declares Tehran as non-compliant with its nuclear non-proliferation commitments.
