IRAN VIOLATED ITS NUCLEAR OBLIGATIONS

The International Atomic Energy Agency, which strives to ensure the peaceful, safe and controlled use of nuclear energy, announced that Iran has violated its obligations to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Iran is a non-nuclear weapon state. This means that it is not officially known whether Iran possesses or has used nuclear weapons. In this context, Iran has certain fundamental obligations. These obligations can be summarized as follows:

• Not acquiring nuclear weapons

• Hoping that nuclear energy will be used only for peaceful purposes

• Not aiding or encouraging the production of nuclear weapons

• Accepting assurance audits from the International Atomic Energy Agency

• Providing access and collaboration

•Declaration of nuclear materials and facilities

• Restrictions on increasing uranium and stockpile limits• Establishing and implementing control mechanisms

These obligations consist of the International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards Agreement, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and additional obligations. This violation by Iran is the first in 20 years. If these violations continue, Iran may file a complaint with the United Nations Security Council. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a religious fatwa prohibiting the production and use of weapons of mass destruction. Therefore, Iran maintains that its nuclear activities are purely for peaceful purposes and that it has no goal of developing nuclear weapons. Furthermore, Iran has argued that the agreement does not sufficiently prevent the development of nuclear weapons, citing US President Donald Trump's 2018 withdrawal and reimposition of sanctions as justification for its violations. In response, Iran began violating the agreement's restrictions. These violations also clearly indicated Iran's failure to cooperate with inspections. Lack of cooperation negatively impacts trust within the international community. When states fail to cooperate for any reason, trust is lost. Therefore, it is crucial for states to cooperate. At the same time, a lack of cooperation weakens regional security and hinders trade.

The IAEA, in its long-running investigation, has expressed concerns that Iran may be conducting clandestine activities with undetected nuclear material. This is because Iran has a large stockpile of processed, or enriched, uranium. The IAEA's latest report indicated that Iran has accumulated over 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% purity, enough to produce nine nuclear bombs. This situation is causing great concern in the international community.

As a result, Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium is a source of concern not only regionally but also internationally. To prevent this situation, it is crucial to reach a new agreement and ensure cooperation that does not conflict with the interests of the states, thus creating areas of common interest.

      NEWS SOURCES:                                                                       

• https://www.bbc.com/turkce/articles/cx2j8l00827o