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Source: Newsweek

Jul 25, 2024

Iran's Nuclear Technology Boom Threatens U.S.

By Marni Rose McFall


Iran has successfully penetrated global markets with its nuclear products and services, according to an announcement made by the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).


The development marks a significant milestone in Iran's nuclear technology capabilities despite ongoing international sanctions.


The Context

The announcement, made during an interview with Khamenei.ir, highlights Iran's efforts to break the monopoly in nuclear technology. Eslami emphasized the country's progress in producing and exporting nuclear goods, including heavy water and radiopharmaceuticals, which are now available on the global market.


The move comes amid continuing tensions surrounding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and international scrutiny of Iran's nuclear program.


Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Department of Defense for comment.


According to Iran Watch, Iran has accumulated a substantial stockpile of highly enriched uranium, sufficient for several nuclear bombs​​.


The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported that Iran now possesses many of the technical components necessary for nuclear weapons, including advanced centrifuges and enriched uranium at near-weapons-grade levels.


These nuclear advancements occur amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The Israel-Hamas war, which began on October 7, 2023, has significantly intensified regional tensions.


Iran has been implicated in supporting Hamas, which complicates the geopolitical landscape further, with Hamas leaders repeatedly thanking Iran for its military and financial support in their fight against Israel.


Moreover, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched a series of attacks on shipping through the Red Sea corridor, described by the U.S. Navy as the most intense combat since World War II.


In an interview with the Office for the Preservation and Publication of the works of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Revolution, AEOI chief Mohammad Eslami declared that various countries have been purchasing Iranian heavy water and receiving services from Iranian specialists.


Eslami said, "Our capabilities in nuclear technology have enabled us to provide services and products that are now present in global markets."


He continued that, "Given our capacity and production potential, we can export radiopharmaceuticals to all parts of the world."


In the interview, Eslami also said, "Iran has the legal right to scale back on JCPOA commitments when other parties violate the pact." This likely refers to the U.S's withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2018.


Eslami addressed tensions surrounding the JCPOA: "The JCPOA was a treaty with obligations from both parties and in addition to our obligations, they also had their own."


In the interview, Eslami praised the Strategic Action Law for the Removal of Sanctions, stating that, "This law has been effective and useful, bringing us closer to our goals."


He also stated that this law has provided a response to what he terms as "an enemy that is unilaterally, illegally, and contrary to international norms trying to stop or restrict Iran's nuclear industry," according to the Tehran Times.


Newsweek emailed Eslami via the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran's office of public relations for further comment.







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