Iran Escalates Confrontation with the IAEA

Iran escalated its confrontation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), announcing yesterday that it would deploy “new and advanced” centrifuge units in response to a resolution adopted by the IAEA criticizing Tehran for insufficient cooperation regarding its nuclear program.

The resolution, proposed by the UK, France, and Germany with U.S. support, was backed by 19 of the 35 IAEA member states. Russia, China, and Burkina Faso opposed it, while 12 countries abstained, and Venezuela did not participate.

After the resolution’s adoption, Iran’s representative told Agence France-Presse that the measure was “politically motivated.”

Centrifuges are used to enrich uranium gas by rapidly spinning it, which increases the concentration of the fissile isotope U-235 for various applications.