Global InformationNuclear program of Iran information
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
| Part of a series on the |
| Nuclear program of Iran |
|---|
 |
| Timeline |
| Facilities |
|
| Organizations |
|
| International agreements |
|
| Domestic laws |
|
| Individuals |
|
| Related |
|
Iran has several research sites, two uranium mines, a research reactor, and uranium processing facilities that include three known uranium enrichment plants.[1]
Commencing in the 1950s with support from the United States (under the Atoms for Peace program), Iran's nuclear program was initially geared toward peaceful scientific exploration. In 1970, Iran ratified the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), subjecting its nuclear activities to IAEA inspections. After the 1979 Iranian Revolution, cooperation ceased and Iran pursued its nuclear program independently.
An investigation by the IAEA was launched as declarations by the National Council of Resistance of Iran in 2002 revealed undeclared Iranian nuclear activities.[2][3] In 2006, Iran's noncompliance with its NPT obligations moved the United Nations Security Council to demand Iran suspend its programs.
In 2007, the United States National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) stated Iran halted an alleged active nuclear weapons program in 2003.[4] In November 2011, the IAEA reported credible evidence that Iran had been conducting experiments aimed at designing a nuclear bomb, and that research may have continued on a smaller scale after that time.[5][6] On 1 May 2018 the IAEA reiterated its 2015 report, saying it had found no credible evidence of nuclear weapons activity after 2009.[7][8][9]
Operational since September 2011, the Bushehr I reactor marked Iran's entry into nuclear power with Russia's assistance. This became an important milestone for Rosatom to become the largest player in the world nuclear power market.[10] Anticipated to reach full capacity by the end of 2012, Iran had also begun constructing a new 300 MW Darkhovin Nuclear Power Plant and expressed plans for additional medium-sized nuclear power plants and uranium mines in the future.
Despite the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) aimed at addressing Iran's nuclear concerns, the U.S. withdrawal in 2018 prompted renewed sanctions, impacting diplomatic relations. The IAEA certified Iran's compliance up until 2019, but subsequent breaches strained the agreement.[11][12] In a 2020 IAEA report, Iran was said to have breached the JCPOA and faced criticism from signatories.[13][14]
In 2021, Iran faced scrutiny regarding its assertion that the nuclear program was exclusively for peaceful purposes, especially with references to growth in satellites, missiles, and nuclear weapons.[15]
In April 2022, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran head Mohammad Eslami announced a strategic plan for 10 GWe of nuclear electricity generation.[16]
In October 2023, an IAEA report estimated Iran has increased its uranium stockpile twenty-two times over the 2015 agreed JCPOA limit.[17]
- ^ Kerr, Paul (26 September 2012). "Iran's Nuclear Program: Status" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
- ^ "ArmsControlWonk: Exiles and Iran Intel". Armscontrolwonk.com. Retrieved 26 October 2008.
- ^ "Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement in the Islamic Republic of Iran" (PDF). International Atomic Energy Agency. GOV/2003/40. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
dni.gov-NIEwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "IAEA Report for military dimensions, see pages 4–12" (PDF). International Atomic Energy Agency. 8 November 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ^ "U.N. nuclear watchdog board rebukes defiant Iran". Reuters. 18 November 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:0was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
:1was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
:2was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Szulecki, Kacper; Overland, Indra (April 2023). "Russian nuclear energy diplomacy and its implications for energy security in the context of the war in Ukraine". Nature Energy. 8 (4): 413–421. Bibcode:2023NatEn...8..413S. doi:10.1038/s41560-023-01228-5. hdl:11250/3106595. ISSN 2058-7546.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
ReutersFeb19was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Beaumont, Peter (8 July 2019). "Iran has enriched uranium past key limit, IAEA confirms". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
- ^ "Iran further breaches nuclear deal, says it can exceed 20% enrichment". Reuters. 7 September 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
- ^ "France, German and U.K. rebuke Iran after uranium enrichment announcement". The Globe and Mail Inc. Reuters. 7 December 2020.
- ^ "Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani: Ex-nuclear chief admits Iran aimed to create bomb". The Times of London. 29 November 2021.
- ^ "Iran begins procedures to build indigenous nuclear reactor". Nuclear Engineering International. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:03was invoked but never defined (see the help page).