Grossi Hints At Interim "JCPOA-Lite" To Prevent Iran Acquiring Bomb

IAEA Chief Raphael Grossi has hinted at pursuing an interim arrangement to prevent Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear talks continue to lie dormant.

• Grossi said yesterday that Iran is amassing enough “nuclear material for several nuclear weapons.”
• Grossi: “...we need to make sure... this [nuclear] programme does not cross a line... and that might be through something like the JCPOA or something else. On this I’m neutral.”
• On Jan 24, Grossi briefed the European parliament on Iran's significant increase in nuclear material.
• Responsible Statecraft: "While the breakout time under the JCPOA was one year, Iran can now accumulate the fissile material for a nuclear weapon in under one week... the nightmare scenario that the JCPOA was constructed to avoid."
• The problem is compounded by a lack of IAEA inspection at key sites since February 2021, leaving the IAEA with an additional information gap in Iran's capabilities.
• According to RS, an interim arrangement could include, caps on enrichment purity, caps on centrifuges, and re-admission of IAEA inspectors.
• In return, Iran may be provided oil waivers of Iranian crude, and access to frozen assets in South Korea and Japan.