Context: Recently released report by International Atomic Energy Agency shows that Iran's stock of uranium enriched to up to 60% purity has drastically increased.
The U.S. President has said it plans to pressure Iran over its nuclear programme, while IAEA has warned that time is running out for diplomacy to impose new restrictions on Iran's activities.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Uranium Enrichment; International Atomic Energy Agency; JCPOA.
Background:
- Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA):
- 2015: Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA) was signed after prolonged negotiations between Iran and P5+1 (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States + Germany).
- Under the deal, Iran agreed to:
- Significantly cut its stores of enriched uranium and heavy-water, the key components for nuclear weapons.
- Implement a protocol that would allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to access its nuclear sites to ensure Iran would not be able to develop nuclear weapons in secret.
- In return, the West agreed to lift sanctions related to Iran’s Nuclear Proliferation.
- 2018: The US under the Trump Administration unilaterally abandoned the deal (claiming JCPOA failed to curtail Iran's missile program and regional influence) and reinstated banking and oil sanctions on Iran. Thereafter, Iran has ramped up (accelerated) its nuclear programme.
What is Uranium Enrichment?
- Naturally-occurring Uranium is composed of three major isotopes:
- Uranium-238 (99.284% natural abundance)
- Uranium-235 (0.711%)
- Uranium-234 (0.005%)
- The production of energy in nuclear reactors is from the ‘fission’ or splitting of the U-235 atoms, as it is the only nuclide existing in nature (in appreciable amount) that is fissile with thermal neutrons.
- Since naturally-occurring Uranium does not have a high enough concentration of U-235, Uranium enrichment is necessary to create an effective nuclear fuel out of mined Uranium.
- In Enriched Uranium, the percent composition of U- 235 has been increased through the process of isotope separation.
Uses of Enriched Uranium:
- Enriched Uranium is a critical component for both civil nuclear power generation and military nuclear weapons.
- Typically, Uranium used for power generation is enriched to levels between 3% and 5% U-235.
- Weapon-grade uranium is considered to have been enriched above 90% U-235.
Key Facts:
- U-238 remaining after enrichment is known as depleted Uranium (DU) and is considerably less radioactive than even natural Uranium. Despite being mildly radioactive, depleted Uranium is also an effective radiation shielding material and extremely hazardous.
- The International Atomic Energy Agency attempts to monitor and control enriched Uranium supplies and processes in its efforts to ensure nuclear power generation safety and curb nuclear weapons proliferation.
International Atomic Energy Agency
- IAEA is the key agency to promote cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
- Established in 1957 as an autonomous international organisation within the United Nations system. Through its IAEA Statute, the IAEA reports to both the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council.
- Members: 180 members.
- India is a founding member of the IAEA.
- Signature and ratification of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) are not preconditions for membership in the IAEA.
- Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.
- 2005: IAEA was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their work for a safer and more peaceful world.
IAEA’s Additional Protocol
- Additional Protocol is a legal agreement between IAEA and a country that expands IAEA’s ability to verify a country’s nuclear abilities.
- India has signed the Additional Protocol (AP) to the IAEA safeguards agreement in 2009, which entered into force in 2014.
- The Protocol covers only those facilities which are monitored by the IAEA, and does not cover non-safeguarded facilities which are used for building weapons.
- It enhances transparency of India’s nuclear infrastructure. It will ensure collection of data of India's nuclear exports to guarantee that the material is not diverted for unauthorised use.