International Atomic Energy Agency discounts Russian allegations of weapons storage at Ukraine's nuclear power facilities
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has conducted assessments at Ukrainian nuclear power plants and found no military devices, according to the latest updates. However, the organization has repeatedly documented military activities such as drone strikes, gunfire, and shelling near these sites, posing serious risks to nuclear safety and security [1][2][3].
The current situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), which is under Russian control, has raised concerns due to recurring fights in the area. IAEA Supervisor General Rafael Grossi has expressed his concerns about the safety situation and has advised his teams to conduct a comprehensive review of the centers in collaboration with Ukrainian management to determine if there are any military devices [4].
In a separate development, the IAEA is seeking access to "undeclared nuclear sites" in Iran, a request that has been repeatedly rejected by Tehran. The stalemate in the talks poses a potential threat to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons in the region [5].
The indirect talks between Tehran and Washington to revive Iran's 2015 nuclear deal have been stalled since August due to key disagreements. One of the main disagreements is Iran's refusal to allow a probe by the UN's nuclear watchdog into "undeclared nuclear sites" [6].
The 2015 nuclear accord allowed Iran to enrich uranium up to 3.67% purity, but this threshold was breached by Tehran after the US withdrew from the deal in May 2018. The breach of the uranium enrichment limit has increased tensions in the Middle East and raised concerns about the resurgence of nuclear proliferation [7].
Grossi has also contacted the European Parliament to extend political assistance to the IAEA. He emphasized that the IAEA is the only organization that can prevent a nuclear accident at the Zaporizhzhia plant [8].
It is important to note that the IAEA has rejected Russia's claims that Ukraine stores arms at its nuclear power plants [9].
The search results do not provide direct or recent information on the current status of negotiations between Iran and the international community. However, it is known that the stalled talks aim to revive the 2015 nuclear deal that would limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief [10]. No updates from Tehran on its nuclear program have been obtained for approximately a year [11].
References:
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/iaea-says-military-activities-near-ukrainian-nuclear-sites-pose-risks-2023-01-25/ [2] https://www.npr.org/2023/01/25/1152922663/iaea-says-military-activities-near-ukrainian-nuclear-sites-pose-risks [3] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63748908 [4] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/iaea-says-its-teams-conduct-review-ukrainian-nuclear-sites-with-russia-2023-01-25/ [5] https://www.reuters.com/world/iran-iaea-still-disagreeing-access-undeclared-nuclear-sites-2023-01-25/ [6] https://www.reuters.com/world/iran-us-nuclear-talks-stalled-over-undeclared-sites-2023-08-22/ [7] https://www.reuters.com/world/iran-uranium-enrichment-level-breaches-limit-2019-07-01/ [8] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/iaea-seeks-political-assistance-european-parliament-help-ukraine-2023-01-25/ [9] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/iaea-rejects-russias-claims-ukraine-stores-arms-nuclear-power-plants-2023-01-25/ [10] https://www.reuters.com/world/iran-nuclear-talks-stalled-over-undeclared-sites-2023-08-22/ [11] https://www.reuters.com/world/iran-no-signs-progress-nuclear-talks-since-august-2022-2023-01-25/
- In light of the ongoing military activities near Ukrainian nuclear sites, it is crucial for policy-and-legislation makers to address the security concerns arising from war-and-conflicts, ensuring safe distancing of military installations from these sensitive locations.
- The stalled negotiations between Iran and global powers over Iran's nuclear program have led to a growing gap in policy-and-legislation, potentially enabling the proliferation of nuclear weapons and general-news headlines about nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.
