A UN nuclear watchdog head claims that Iran is not entirely transparent about its atomic program. This hints that the Iranian government might be hiding some secrets regarding its nuclear efforts.
This information was shared by UN International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi during the World Governments Summit in Dubai.
Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) speaks to journalists after the IAEA's Board of Governors meeting at the agency's headquarters in Vienna, Austria on November 16, 2022.
Grossi shared his statements after Iran's former Atomic Energy Organization head Ali Akbar Salehi claimed that they already had what they needed to build an atomic weapon.
UN Head Claims Iranian Government 'Not Entirely Transparent' About Its Atomic Program
Rafael Mariano Grossi said that the Iranian government is not being entirely transparent regarding its nuclear activities, which likely increases the dangers Iran's atomic program poses.
"There's loose talk about nuclear weapons more and more, including in Iran recently. A very high official said, in fact, we have everything, it's disassembled. Well, please let me know what you have," he explained via The Associated Press.
Euro News reported that Grossi didn't specify the Iranian official he was talking about. But, he was most likely referring to Ali Akbar Salehi.
This is because Salehi appeared on a late-night Iranian state television show on Sunday, Feb. 11. During his appearance, he said that Iran already has all it needs to create a new warfare weapon.
"We have all the (pieces) of nuclear science and technology. Let me give an example," explained the Iranian academic.
"What does a car need? It needs a chassis, it needs an engine, it needs a steering wheel, it needs a gearbox. Have you made a gearbox? I say yes. An engine? But each one is for its own purpose," he added.
Read Also: Pentagon Sees China's Massive Nuclear Weapons Buildup at More Than 500 Warheads
Iran Focusing on Nuclear Arsenal
Technicians work inside of a uranium conversion facility producing unit March 30, 2005 just outside the city of Isfahan, about 254 miles (410 kilometers), south of capital Tehran, Iran. The cities of Isfahan and Natanz in central Iran are home to the heart of Iran's nuclear program.
Ever since the 2015 deal between Iran with other superpower countries collapsed, the Iranian government has pursued nuclear enrichment just below weapons-grade levels.
This means that Tehran can now start building several nuclear weapons if it chooses to do so, thanks to enough enriched uranium supplies.
Iran's ongoing atomic program concerns many countries, especially since the militias it arms in the Middle East are launching attacks against Israel. These include the Houthi rebels and Hezbollah.
Aside from this, Iran also conducted a ballistic missile test. Footage showing the missile being fired off the Shaid Mahdavi was even released.
Related Article: Iran Increasing Enriched Uranium Stockpile While Still Barring Inspectors, IAEA Report Shows
