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The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) determined that Iran carried out covert nuclear activities using undeclared materials at three locations that have been under investigation for years, according to a confidential report distributed to member states.
The comprehensive IAEA report, requested by the agency's 35-nation Board of Governors in November, provides the foundation for the United States, Britain, France and Germany to seek a formal declaration that Iran has violated its nuclear non-proliferation commitments.
The four Western powers plan to submit a draft resolution during the board's next meeting, the week of June 9, according to diplomatic sources. If adopted, it would mark the first time in nearly two decades that Iran has been formally found in non-compliance with international nuclear obligations.
The IAEA concluded that Iran failed to declare nuclear material and related activities at three sites: Lavisan-Shian, Varamin and Turquzabad. The agency determined that "these three locations, and other possible related locations, were part of an undeclared structured nuclear programme carried out by Iran until the early 2000s and that some activities used undeclared nuclear material."
At the Lavisan-Shian facility in Tehran, investigators found evidence that a uranium metal disc was "used in the production of explosively-driven neutron sources" at least twice in 2003—a process specifically designed to trigger nuclear weapon detonations. The report characterized these as "small-scale" tests.
Nuclear material and heavily contaminated equipment from the program were stored at Turquzabad between 2009 and 2018, the report stated.
While many findings relate to decades-old activities previously documented, the IAEA's conclusions were notably more definitive than in past assessments. The report pointed toward coordinated, secret activities, some directly relevant to nuclear weapons production.
The agency also noted that Iran's cooperation "continues to be less than satisfactory" in multiple areas, with Tehran still failing to provide adequate explanations for uranium traces discovered years ago at two of the four sites under investigation.
A separate IAEA report released Saturday revealed that Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% purity—approaching the roughly 90% threshold for weapons-grade material—has increased by approximately half to 408.6 kilograms. This quantity, if further enriched, would be sufficient for nine nuclear weapons according to IAEA calculations.
The reports noted that enrichment to such high levels is "of serious concern," as Iran remains the only nation to enrich uranium to 60% without producing nuclear weapons.
Iran maintains that its nuclear program serves peaceful purposes and has consistently denied Western allegations that it seeks to develop nuclear weapons.
The findings are expected to prompt Iran to accelerate its nuclear activities, following a pattern of expanding its program after previous international rebukes. The developments could also complicate ongoing diplomatic efforts between Tehran and Washington aimed at constraining Iran's nuclear advancement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the IAEA report demonstrated Tehran's determination to complete a nuclear weapons program and called for immediate international action to prevent this outcome.
U.S. intelligence agencies and the IAEA have long assessed that Iran operated a coordinated nuclear weapons program until 2003, when it was allegedly halted. Iran continues to deny ever having pursued such capabilities.
The potential resolution could ultimately lead to Iran's referral to the U.N. Security Council, though diplomats indicated this would likely occur at a subsequent IAEA board meeting rather than immediately.
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