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Iran vows to boost uranium output after coming under historic censure from IAEA

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Banglapress Published: 23 September 2025, 10:25 AM
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Iran vows to boost uranium output after coming under historic censure from IAEA
  Bangla Press Desk: Iran on Thursday vowed to "significantly" increase its output of enriched uranium in defiance of US demands ahead of a new round of nuclear talks in the weekend, and amid reports of an imminent Israeli attack. The announcement came after a UN nuclear watchdog resolution, for the first time in 20 years, accused Iran of "non-compliance" with its obligations, prompting Israel to say the world must respond "decisively". Nineteen of the 35 countries on the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) voted for the motion, which was submitted by the US, UK, France and Germany. China, Russia and Burkina Faso voted against the text, while 11 countries abstained, diplomats told AFP.
The IAEA censure comes as the United States and Iran held several rounds of talks mediated by Oman to secure agreement on limiting Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. But tensions have been mounting in the Middle East and US President Donald Trump has said he was "less confident" about reaching a nuclear agreement. On Wednesday, Iran threatened to target US military bases in the region if conflict breaks out. Thursday’s resolution says Iran's "many failures" to provide the IAEA with full answers about its undeclared nuclear material and activities "constitutes non-compliance". It also expresses concern about Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium, which can be used to make reactor fuel but also nuclear weapons.
Furthermore, the resolution calls on Iran "to urgently remedy its non-compliance" with its commitments under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). It also "deeply regrets" that Tehran "despite repeated calls from the Board and many opportunities offered... has failed to cooperate fully with the Agency". Iran condemned the resolution as "political" and said it would open a new enrichment facility. The United States, Israel and other Western countries have repeatedly accused Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon, an accusation Tehran has categorically denied.
Uranium enrichment has emerged as the key point of contention in nuclear talks with the United States, with the next round due on Sunday in Oman. "The necessary orders have been issued by the head of the Atomic Energy Organisation to launch a new enrichment centre in a secure location," said a joint statement from the organisation and the foreign ministry. Iran will also be "replacing all of these first-generation machines with sixth-generation advanced machines" at the Fordow uranium enrichment plant south of Tehran, the organisation's spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said. This means "our production of enriched material will increase significantly," he told state TV. Threats to US bases
Iran's nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami later slammed Thursday's resolution as "extremist" and "illegal", blaming the outcome on Israeli "influence". He added that enrichment would begin at the new "invulnerable" site "as soon as the machines are installed". The United States and Iran have held five rounds of talks since April to hammer out a new nuclear deal, replacing a 2015 accord that President Donald Trump abandoned during his first term in office. Iran has threatened to target US military bases in the region in the event that the talks fail and conflict erupts. Trump appeared to shift his previously optimistic tone this week, saying he was "less confident" a deal could be reached, and on Wednesday ordered US personnel to be moved from the potentially "dangerous" Middle East. On Thursday, the US embassy in Jerusalem restricted staff movements over security concerns, citing "increased regional tensions". A US official had earlier said that staff levels at the embassy in Iraq were being reduced over security concerns. Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi nonetheless confirmed in a post on X on Thursday that the "6th round of Iran US talks will be held in Muscat this Sunday". 'Strategic mistake' Israel has repeatedly warned that it could attack Iranian nuclear sites, vowing to stop its arch foe from acquiring an atomic bomb. Iran has vowed to respond to any attack. "All its (US) bases are within our reach, we have access to them, and without hesitation we will target all of them in the host countries," Iran's Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said in response to US threats of military action if the talks fail. "God willing, things won't reach that point, and the talks will succeed," the minister said, but added that Washington "will suffer more losses" if conflict erupts. The latest developments come amid a diplomatic standoff over Iran's uranium enrichment, which Tehran has defended as a "non-negotiable" right while Washington has called it a "red line". Iran currently enriches uranium to 60 percent, far above the 3.67-percent limit set in the 2015 deal and close though still short of the 90 percent needed for a nuclear warhead. On Thursday, the International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors adopted a resolution condemning Iran's "non-compliance" with its nuclear obligations, carried by 19 votes in favour, out of 35 in total, diplomats said. The resolution could lay the groundwork for European countries to invoke the "snapback" mechanism under the 2015 nuclear deal, reinstating UN sanctions in response to Iranian non-compliance -- an option that expires in October. Following Iran's vow to increase enrichment, the European Union called on Tehran "to show restraint and avoid any step that would further escalate the situation". On Wednesday, Iran's permanent UN representative Amir Saeid Iravani said Tehran would consider "proportionate responses" if the snapback mechanism is triggered -- including "starting the process of withdrawal" from the Non-Proliferation Treaty. This article was originally published on Daily Sun. [Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.] BP/ZE
[Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.]

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