UN Report: Iran is Diverting Uranium for Peaceful Purposes

But the US still stubbornly insists Iran stop enriching uranium to 20 percent, despite proving good on its promises

A United Nations report due this week is expected to detail a decrease in the growth of Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium because it is diverting much of the material to make fuel, as it has promised, Reuters reports.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and even Israeli intelligence admitted publicly last October that Iran was diverting much of itsĀ enriched uranium forĀ peaceful scientific research and medical isotopes.

This information clashes with what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to warn about. On Monday, he issued another stern warning of Iran’s determination to become a nuclear state, insisting that a “robust, credible, military threat” is the only thing that can stop it.

Some reports claim Iran has installed new uranium enrichment, increasing its overall capacity. But this upcoming UN report is expected to conclude that the rate of growth of Iran’s capabilities is slowing, primarily because the material is being used for fuel and other peaceful purposes.

Iran has repeatedly announced its 20 percent enriched uranium is for peaceful purposes like fuel, scientific research, and medical isotopes. Iran has followed through on this promise.

Still, negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 are essentially stagnant because of Washington’s insistence that Iran give up its 20 percent enrichment.

Author: John Glaser

John Glaser writes for Antiwar.com.