By Albert Otti
dpa
Vienna (dpa) — Iran on Thursday announced plans to construct a new uranium enrichment facility “at a secure location,” following a resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) accusing Tehran of failing to meet its nuclear obligations.
Tehran said the planned third enrichment plant would go ahead amid mounting international concern over its nuclear programme.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has no choice but to respond to this political resolution. Accordingly, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has issued necessary orders for the establishment of a new enrichment centre at a secure location,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said in a joint statement.
The statement described the IAEA’s allegations as “devoid” of legal basis and “politically motivated.”
Earlier, the UN nuclear watchdog’s 35-member executive board passed the resolution during a meeting in Vienna, stating that Iran had failed to fully disclose its nuclear activities.
The resolution, initiated by the United States, France, Germany and Britain, found Iran in “non-compliance with its obligations” and warned that the matter may be referred to the UN Security Council.
The IAEA noted that Tehran had refused for years to declare its past nuclear activities, while inspectors uncovered traces of uranium and other suspicious evidence at undeclared sites.
Director General Rafael Grossi recently stated that he could not guarantee Iran’s nuclear programme served solely peaceful purposes, raising further concerns among Western powers and Israel.
Despite Tehran’s repeated insistence that its nuclear programme is peaceful, it continues to enrich uranium to levels approaching weapons-grade, fueling fears that it may be moving closer to developing a nuclear weapon.
The IAEA considers Iran’s explanations for its activities not credible.
Iran has previously threatened to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the international agreement aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.
Meanwhile, concerns are growing that Israel could strike Iranian nuclear facilities, with United States witdrawing non-essential diplomatic staff from neighbouring Iraq.
Negotiations between Washington and Tehran over new nuclear deal resumed in April, with a sixth round of talks still scheduled for Sunday in Oman, which is mediating the process.
However, after initial optimism, President Donald Trump said this week he was increasingly “less confident” about the talks’ outcome.
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