Time is running out to secure an accord to rein in Iran's nuclear programme as Tehran continues to accelerate its enrichment of uranium to near weapons grade, U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said on Friday.
Iran has stepped up nuclear work since 2019, after U.S. President Donald Trump in his first term abandoned a 2015 agreement reached under predecessor Barack Obama.
With nuclear diplomacy stalled, the spotlight has turned on Trump and how he intends to handle the dossier.
So far there has been little clear policy on the issue, and Iran has continued to advance its nuclear programme, accelerating enrichment of uranium to up to 60% purity, close to the roughly 90% of weapons grade.
"I think we are running out of time, but it doesn't mean that we can't do it fast," International Atomic Energy Agency chief Grossi said in an interview on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
"The IAEA is there and has all the information and elements, but when it comes to the policy it's up to the countries."
Grossi said Iran was in the process of increasing around sevenfold its monthly production of uranium enriched to up to 60%.
He said Iran would likely have about 250 kg of uranium enriched to up to 60% by the time of the agency's next report in the coming weeks.
That is enough in principle, if enriched further, for six nuclear bombs, according to an IAEA yardstick
"It's clearly a sign that should be taken very seriously. So this is why I believe that we shouldn't be wasting more time. I hope that we can refocus on Iran," he said.
IAEA 'EAGERLY' AWAITS ENVOY'S APPOINTMENT
Highlighting the challenges, Trump has yet to appoint a dedicated team or envoy to handle the Iran dossier, leaving allies, including Britain, France and Germany, who are part of the 2015 deal, unclear on how to proceed.
The European powers had hoped to convince Iran to begin negotiating new restrictions on its nuclear activities with a view to having a deal by the summer.
That would give enough time to implement new limits on Iran's programme and lift sanctions before the 2015 accord expires in October 2025.
"We are eagerly waiting for a U.S. envoy on Iran to be appointed so we can start exchanging views and seeing what the next steps will be," Grossi said. "We are in contact, but we haven't been able to have a political conversation with someone who is implementing the policies of the president."
At the request of the Europeans, the IAEA's 35-nation Board of Governors passed a resolution in November ordering Iran to urgently improve cooperation with the agency and requesting a "comprehensive" report by spring aimed at pressuring Iran into fresh nuclear talks.
Asked whether the report could be ready by the next board meeting in March, Grossi said there would be "very little added value" to what the agency had already reported and that it would be better once there had been some progress with Iran.
"It will come. It could be by March, but most likely a bit later," Grossi said.
