IAEA Report Exposes Iran’s Secret Nuclear Activities, Risks Escalation at Upcoming Board Meeting

 Vienna, June 1, 2025, 09:48 AM IST – Iran has been found to have conducted undeclared nuclear activities at three locations, according to a comprehensive confidential report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), seen by Reuters. The findings, presented to the agency’s 35-nation Board of Governors, detail a history of secret nuclear experiments and could pave the way for a formal declaration of Iran’s non-compliance with its non-proliferation obligations—a move not seen in nearly two decades.

The IAEA report, requested by the Board in November 2024, concludes that Iran failed to declare nuclear material and activities at Lavisan-Shian, Varamin, and Turquzabad, sites long under investigation. “These three locations, and other possible related locations, were part of an undeclared structured nuclear programme carried out by Iran until the early 2000s and that some activities used undeclared nuclear material,” the report states. At Lavisan-Shian in Tehran, the agency found evidence of a uranium metal disc used in 2003 for “explosively-driven neutron sources,” a process linked to initiating nuclear weapon explosions, though described as “small-scale” tests. Additionally, nuclear material and contaminated equipment from this programme were stored at Turquzabad between 2009 and 2018.

The report also highlights Iran’s ongoing lack of cooperation, stating that Tehran’s engagement with the IAEA remains “less than satisfactory” in several respects. The agency continues to seek explanations for uranium traces found at two of the four investigated sites, with three confirmed to have hosted secret experiments.

Western Powers Push for Action

The United States, Britain, France, and Germany are poised to use the report’s findings to submit a draft resolution at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting scheduled for the week of June 9, diplomats reveal. If adopted, the resolution would declare Iran in violation of its nuclear non-proliferation commitments, a step likely to provoke a strong reaction from Tehran and further complicate nuclear talks with Washington. A referral to the U.N. Security Council could follow at a later board meeting, escalating the diplomatic standoff.

Iran’s foreign ministry and nuclear agency issued a joint statement rejecting the IAEA report as “politically motivated.” They warned that Tehran would take “appropriate measures” in response to any actions against it at the upcoming board meeting, though specifics were not provided, according to state media. Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, denying Western accusations of pursuing nuclear weapons.

Uranium Enrichment Raises Alarms

A separate IAEA report released on Saturday revealed that Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% purity—close to the 90% threshold for weapons-grade material—has increased by nearly half, reaching 408.6 kg. This quantity, if further enriched, could theoretically produce nine nuclear weapons, according to IAEA estimates. The agency expressed “serious concern” over this development, noting that Iran is the only country enriching uranium to such levels without producing nuclear weapons.

Israel, a vocal critic of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, responded swiftly. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that the IAEA report confirms Tehran’s determination to develop nuclear weapons, urging the international community to act immediately to halt Iran’s progress.

Nuclear Talks in Jeopardy

The IAEA findings come at a critical juncture in nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States. On Saturday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi revealed that his Omani counterpart had presented elements of a U.S. proposal for a nuclear deal during a brief visit to Tehran. Araqchi posted on X, stating that Iran “will respond to the U.S. proposal in line with the principles, national interests and rights of people of Iran,” ahead of an anticipated sixth round of talks, though the date and venue remain undisclosed.

In Washington, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt commented, “President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff has sent a detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime, and it’s in their best interest to accept it.” She declined to elaborate further on the proposal’s details.

A History of Secrecy

U.S. intelligence agencies and the IAEA have long believed Iran operated a coordinated nuclear weapons program until 2003, a claim Tehran denies. The latest IAEA report provides the most definitive evidence to date of these activities, potentially fueling Iran’s pattern of accelerating its nuclear program in response to international pressure. Previous rebukes at the IAEA board have led Iran to expand its uranium enrichment activities, and the current findings could further derail diplomatic efforts to curb its nuclear ambitions.

As the IAEA Board of Governors prepares for its June 9 meeting, the international community faces a delicate balancing act: addressing Iran’s non-compliance while preventing further escalation in an already volatile region. The outcome of this meeting could set the tone for U.S.-Iran relations and the broader stability of the Middle East in the months ahead.