The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN’s nuclear watchdog responsible for monitoring nuclear programs, is unable to verify Iran’s claim that its nuclear program is “entirely peaceful” due to Iran’s lack of cooperation.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated on Monday that the agency has been denied access to both old and new nuclear sites and that Iran appears to have sanitized locations in an effort to conceal its activities.

In 2020, the IAEA discovered man-made enriched uranium particles at three sites – Varamin, Marivan, and Turquzabad – previously linked to Iran’s nuclear program. This discovery led the agency to believe that Tehran may have resumed pursuing nuclear weapons.

“Since then, we have been seeking explanations and clarifications from Iran for the presence of these uranium particles, including through a number of high-level meetings and consultations in which I have been personally involved,” Grossi said. “Unfortunately, Iran has repeatedly either not answered, or not provided technically credible answers to, the Agency’s questions.”

“It has also sought to sanitize the locations, which has impeded Agency verification activities,” he added.

Grossi confirmed that the IAEA is not involved in nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, but that he has been working “closely and intensively” with both parties to “support their bilateral negotiation[s].”

The warning follows an IAEA report last month that Iran had significantly increased its stockpile of enriched uranium by nearly 35% in just three months.

In February, the IAEA estimated that Iran possessed 274.8 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%. However, on May 17th, it found that Iran now holds approximately 408.6 kilograms, bringing the regime close to having enough material to create nuclear weapons.

Last week, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected a U.S. proposal aimed at ending Iran’s nuclear program. The details of the proposal remain unclear, including potential limitations on enrichment capabilities. On Sunday, Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf claimed the proposal offered no sanctions relief.

The White House has not disclosed the contents of the document. Some reports suggest President Biden gave Iran until June 11 to reach a deal with the U.S., but this information has not been independently verified.

On Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated that “The U.S. proposal is not acceptable to us. It was not the result of previous rounds of negotiations.”

“We will present our own proposal to the other side via Oman after it is finalized. This proposal is reasonable, logical, and balanced,” Baghaei added.

Some reports indicate that Iran might submit its proposal as early as June 10, but the Iranian UN mission in the U.S. has declined to comment on these claims.

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