Iran has accelerated its production of highly enriched uranium, according to a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which Tehran dismissed as "political," while also announcing that it had received "elements" of a U.S. proposal aimed at reaching a new agreement on its nuclear program. The report paves the way for a draft resolution declaring that Iran is in violation of its so-called safeguards commitments.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that his Omani counterpart conveyed during a short visit to Tehran on Saturday the terms of a U.S. proposal regarding a potential nuclear agreement between Tehran and Washington.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said later on Saturday that Steve Witkoff, the U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, “sent a detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime, and it is in their interest to accept it.”
Araghchi wrote on the X platform that Iran “will respond to the U.S. proposal in accordance with national principles, interests, and the rights of the Iranian people.”
His remarks come ahead of an expected sixth round of talks between Washington and Tehran to resolve the decades-long dispute over Iran’s nuclear program.
The time and place of the talks have not yet been announced.
In a statement, Leavitt said, “President Trump has made it clear that Iran can never obtain a nuclear bomb,” confirming that the U.S. proposal had been conveyed to Iran.
She refrained from providing further details.
Trump said on Friday that an agreement with Iran is possible “in the not-too-distant future.”
A few days earlier, Trump told reporters that he had warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against taking actions that could disrupt the nuclear talks with Iran.
His comments appeared to reflect U.S. concerns over the possibility of an Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear facilities amid ongoing U.S. diplomatic efforts.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities if diplomacy fails to reach an agreement.
One of the main sticking points in the talks between U.S. and Iranian officials is the U.S. insistence that Iran dismantle its uranium enrichment facilities, a demand Iran refuses.
Trump, who reinstated a “maximum pressure” campaign on Tehran starting in February, had withdrawn in 2018 from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers during his first term and reimposed severe sanctions on Iran.
In the years since, Tehran has steadily exceeded the limits set by the 2015 agreement on its nuclear program, which was intended to make it harder to develop a nuclear bomb.
Tehran denies seeking nuclear weapons.
Meanwhile, Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency quoted an Iranian official as saying that President Donald Trump’s threat to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities is a clear red line and will have severe consequences.
The agency quoted the unnamed official as saying, “If the United States seeks a diplomatic solution, it must abandon the language of threats and sanctions,” adding that such threats are “a blatant hostility against Iran’s national interests.”
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said: “I want it (the nuclear deal) to be so strong that we can bring in inspectors, and we can take what we want, and blow up what we want — but without anyone getting killed. We can blow up a lab, but there will be no one inside, unlike blowing up a lab with everyone inside.”
A Politicized IAEA Report
The International Atomic Energy Agency, in an extensive confidential report to member states seen by Reuters, said that Iran had previously conducted secret nuclear activities involving undeclared materials at three sites under long-standing investigation.
The “comprehensive” report was requested by the IAEA’s 35-member Board of Governors in November and paves the way for an initiative by the United States, Britain, France, and Germany to have the board declare that Iran is violating its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Issuing any such resolution would anger Iran and could further complicate nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
Diplomats say the four Western powers are planning, based on the report’s findings, to submit a draft resolution to the board at its upcoming meeting on June 9.
This would mark the first time in nearly 20 years that Iran is formally deemed non-compliant.
State media reported that Iran’s Foreign Ministry rejected the report as “politically motivated” and said Tehran would take “appropriate measures” in response to any attempt to act against it at the board meeting, without providing further details.
Tehran says it seeks to master nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and consistently denies Western allegations that it is trying to develop nuclear weapons.
While many findings relate to activities dating back decades and previously discovered, the conclusions of the agency’s report were more precise. They summarized developments in recent years and pointed more clearly to coordinated covert activities, some of which are related to the production of nuclear weapons.
The report also stated that Iran’s cooperation with the agency remains “below satisfactory levels” in “a number of areas.” The agency is still seeking explanations for traces of uranium found years ago at two of four sites it investigated. It determined that three of those sites had witnessed covert experiments.
The report concluded that “these three locations, and other potentially relevant sites, were part of a coordinated undeclared nuclear program implemented by Iran until the early 2000s, and that some of the activities used undeclared nuclear material.”
It added that nuclear materials and/or highly contaminated equipment from that program were stored at the fourth site—Turquzabad—between 2009 and 2018.
The report stated: “The agency concluded that Iran did not declare nuclear materials and related activities at three undeclared sites in Iran, namely Lavizan-Shian, Varamin, and Turquzabad.”
According to the report, a uranium metal disc found at Lavizan-Shian in Tehran “was used to produce neutron sources” at least twice in 2003—an operation designed to trigger a nuclear weapon explosion. The report added this was part of “small-scale testing.”
Diplomats expect the report may lead to Iran being referred to the UN Security Council, although that is likely to occur in a future meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors.
This would likely push Iran to once again accelerate or expand its fast-moving nuclear program, as it has done after previous censures by the board. It may also further complicate talks with the United States aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear program.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated that Iran has accelerated its production of uranium enriched to 60%, which is close to the 90% required for military use. The agency noted that the stockpile reached 408.6 kg as of May 17—a 133.8 kg increase in the past three months, compared to a 92 kg increase in the previous period.
The total amount of enriched uranium now exceeds the limit set by the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers by more than 45 times, reaching 9,247.6 kilograms.
The agency wrote in the report that “this significant increase in production by Iran—the only non-nuclear-armed country producing such nuclear material—and its stockpiling of highly enriched uranium… raises major concerns.”
Tehran and Washington have held five rounds of talks mediated by Oman since April, with both sides confirming progress despite public disagreements over Iran’s continued uranium enrichment capabilities.
If a deal with Washington is reached, Iran confirmed on Wednesday that it may allow inspections by American IAEA inspectors.
Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, said: “If issues are raised, and an agreement is reached that takes Iran’s demands into account, we will reconsider the possibility of accepting American inspectors” from the IAEA.
According to the IAEA, Iran is the only non-nuclear power enriching uranium to the 60% level.
Israel said the IAEA’s latest report showed that Iran’s nuclear program is not peaceful and that Tehran is still determined to complete its nuclear weapons program.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement: “The international community must act now to stop Iran,” adding that the uranium enrichment level achieved “exists only in countries actively pursuing nuclear weapons, and has no civilian justification whatsoever.”
Iran warns of retaliation
Iran warned on Sunday that it would respond if European powers that threatened to reimpose sanctions over its nuclear program “exploited” a UN report showing Tehran had ramped up high-level uranium enrichment.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a statement on Sunday that he informed IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in a phone call that “Iran will respond appropriately to any improper move by the European parties,” referring to the UK, France, and Germany.
The three countries warned that they may reimpose sanctions if Iran’s nuclear program poses a threat to the continent’s security.
Araqchi urged Grossi during the Saturday call not to allow “some parties” to misuse the report “to pursue their political agendas” against Iran, according to the statement.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the IAEA report on Saturday, calling it “political and unbalanced.”
The New York Times reported Saturday that White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said: “Special Envoy Weintzcoff submitted a detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime, and it is in their interest to accept it.”
The newspaper, citing officials familiar with the diplomatic talks, said the proposal is a series of summarized points rather than a full draft.
The proposal calls on Iran to halt all uranium enrichment activities and proposes the establishment of a regional consortium for nuclear energy production, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, other Arab states, and the United States.
Araqchi reiterated Iran’s rejection of nuclear weapons, saying in remarks quoted by state TV: “If the issue is nuclear weapons, then yes—we also find them unacceptable,” adding, “We agree with them on this point.”
While Trump said on Wednesday that a deal between the two countries was imminent, Araqchi commented Thursday on a U.S. media report suggesting the same by saying, “I’m not confident we’ve truly reached that point.”
Pressure on the IAEA Board of Governors
In this context, diplomats said Western powers are preparing to pressure the IAEA Board of Governors at its upcoming quarterly meeting to declare Iran non-compliant with its nuclear non-proliferation obligations for the first time in nearly 20 years.
Three diplomats said the U.S. would, upon issuance of the report, draft a resolution declaring Iran in violation of what are known as its safeguards obligations. A fourth diplomat said Western powers are preparing a resolution without delving into specifics.
The diplomats added that the text will be discussed with member states of the Board of Governors in the coming days before being formally submitted by the four Western powers during the quarterly meeting, as was the case with previous resolutions.
Saudi Arabia Warns Iran
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman sent a clear message to Iranian officials in Tehran last month: accept U.S. President Donald Trump’s offer to negotiate a nuclear deal seriously, as it represents the only way to avoid the risk of war with Israel.
According to two Gulf sources close to government circles and two Iranian officials, Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz (89 years old), concerned about growing instability in the region, dispatched his son Prince Khalid to warn Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The sources said that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Mohammad Bagheri, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attended the closed-door meeting held on April 17 at the presidential compound in Tehran.
Although the media covered Prince Khalid's (37 years old) visit to Tehran, the content of King Salman’s secret message had not been disclosed previously.
All four sources reported that Prince Khalid, who served as Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Washington during Trump’s first term, warned the Iranian officials that the American president’s patience wouldn’t last through prolonged negotiations.
Trump had surprisingly announced direct talks with Iran to curb its nuclear program in exchange for easing sanctions. He made the announcement in the presence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had traveled to Washington hoping to gain U.S. support for attacks on Iranian nuclear sites.
According to the sources, Prince Khalid informed the group of senior Iranian officials that Trump's team wanted to reach a quick agreement and that the window for diplomacy would close rapidly.
The two Gulf sources said the Saudi Defense Minister told them it would be better to reach an agreement with the United States than to risk an Israeli attack if the talks collapse.
According to the two Gulf sources and a senior foreign diplomat familiar with the discussions, Prince Khalid stressed that the region—already torn by recent conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon—could not endure another escalation.
Iranian authorities did not respond to requests for comment before this report was published. However, after publication, Iran’s Fars News Agency quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei as “strongly denying” the Reuters report. Saudi authorities also did not respond to requests for comment.
Prince Khalid’s visit—the first by a senior Saudi royal to Iran in more than two decades—comes after long-standing rivalry between Riyadh and Tehran over regional influence, often supporting opposing sides in proxy wars. In 2023, China helped ease tensions, leading the two countries to resume diplomatic relations.
Over the past two years, Iran’s regional influence has been significantly shaken by severe Israeli strikes against its allies—Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon—as well as the ousting of close ally former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Simultaneously, Western sanctions have heavily impacted Iran’s oil-dependent economy.
Mohanad Hage Ali, an expert on Iranian affairs at the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, said Iran’s weakened position gave Saudi Arabia an opportunity to exert diplomatic influence to avoid regional conflict.
“They want to avoid war, as a conflict with Iran would negatively affect them and their economic vision and ambitions,” he told Reuters.
The four sources stated that during the meeting, Pezeshkian responded by expressing Iran’s desire for a deal to ease economic pressure by lifting Western sanctions.
However, the sources added that Iranian officials voiced concern over the Trump administration’s “unpredictable” negotiation approach, which shifted from allowing limited uranium enrichment to demanding the complete dismantling of the enrichment program.
Trump also threatened military force if diplomacy failed to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
One of the Iranian sources said Pezeshkian emphasized Iran’s willingness to reach a deal, but not at the cost of abandoning its enrichment program just to appease Trump.
The ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran have already gone through five rounds to resolve the decades-long nuclear crisis, but several obstacles remain, including the key issue of uranium enrichment.
Reuters reported Wednesday, citing two Iranian sources familiar with the talks, that Tehran might temporarily halt uranium enrichment if the U.S. unfreezes its funds and acknowledges its right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes under a “political agreement” that could lead to a broader nuclear deal.
Fars News Agency quoted an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman denying the report.
The White House did not directly respond to Reuters' questions on whether it was aware of the Saudi warning to Iran.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement: “President Trump made it clear: strike a deal or face serious consequences, and it’s obvious the whole world is taking him seriously—as they should.”
Trump said on Wednesday that he had warned Netanyahu against any actions that could disrupt the nuclear talks with Iran, adding that the two sides are “very close to a solution now.”
During Trump’s four-day visit to the Gulf this month, Saudi Arabia cemented its role as the most prominent member of a new Sunni bloc in the Middle East filling the void left by the crumbling Iranian axis.
During the visit, Crown Prince Mohammed brokered a reconciliation between Trump and Ahmad Al-Sharaa, the new Sunni president of Syria.
Meanwhile, Iran’s regional influence has diminished due to military setbacks faced by it and its allies in the Shiite-dominated “Axis of Resistance,” which includes Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Iraqi armed factions.
The sources said Prince Khalid urged Iran during the meeting to reconsider its regional policies, noting that such a shift would be especially welcomed by Riyadh.
Although he did not directly blame Iran, the Saudi minister expressed concern over potential drone attacks similar to those that hit Saudi state oil giant Aramco facilities in 2019—attacks the kingdom blamed on Iran and its Houthi allies, though Tehran denied involvement.
The Iranian sources said that while Iran has some influence over the Houthis, it does not fully control their actions.
Decades of hostility between Iran and Saudi Arabia have destabilized the Gulf and fueled regional conflicts from Yemen to Syria.
The breakthrough in 2023 was partially driven by Crown Prince Mohammed’s economic ambitions and desire for stability, leading to increased communication between the two governments.
Diplomats and regional experts say Saudi Arabia and other regional powers do not see Iran as a trustworthy partner for peace and fear that its actions could jeopardize their economic development goals.
Prince Khalid urged the Iranians and their allies to avoid any provocations that might antagonize Washington, stressing that Trump’s response would likely be harsher than that of his predecessors Joe Biden and Barack Obama.
The sources said Prince Khalid assured Tehran that Riyadh would not allow the U.S. or Israel to use its territory or airspace for any military action against Iran.
Source: Agencies + Reuters + AFP
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