Iran holds over nine tons of nuclear material outside of IAEA safeguard, atomic energy head says

The material includes 440 kilograms of enriched uranium, "equivalent to more than 10 nuclear devices," noted Israel Atomic Energy Commission Director-General Moshe Edri. 

Iran holds over nine tons of nuclear material outside of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) safeguards, accused Israel Atomic Energy Commission Director-General Moshe Edri at the agency's 70th general conference on Tuesday. 

The material includes 440 kilograms of enriched uranium, "equivalent to more than 10 nuclear devices," noted Edri.

"Iran’s radical regime has not changed course, and remains committed to expanding its missile and military nuclear capabilities," said Edri. "The regime continued its efforts to rebuild its missile production infrastructure, along with attempts to fortify, hide and advance its nuclear program, in direct violation of UN Security Council resolutions."

He pointed to Iran's repeated threats against Israel, the US, and Gulf States as evidence of such.

"This is a lawless regime that uses drones against civil nuclear power plants, that uses the threat of advanced missiles against critical infrastructure, that operates proxies across borders, such as the terror organizations Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as the Houthis in Yemen, and it repeatedly uses the threat of developing nuclear weapons," he said.

Last week, the IAEA's board passed a resolution reporting Iran to the UN Security Council for the first time in 20 years for breaching its non-proliferation obligations.

Iran warned on Monday it would retaliate if the resolution passed, but Iran's mission to the IAEA did not mention retaliation in its initial reaction.

Edri also commended IAEA  Director-General Rafael Grossi's efforts in addressing Syria's nuclear non-compliance during Assad's reign. 

"If Israel had not acted at that time against the Syrian efforts to operate the Dair Alzour reactor, the Assad regime would have gained military nuclear capabilities by now," he said, referring to Israel's 2007 operation against the reactor.

Edri calls on IAEA to cease 'Israeli Nuclear Capabilities' agenda item

Further, he called for the IAEA to stop its repeated agenda items on the "Israeli Nuclear Capabilities," which were "placed on the agenda of the General Conference year after year by the Arab Group" in a move he describes as political and "completely outside the scope of the IAEA Statute and mandate."

"We strongly object to its inclusion on the agenda, as well as to the linkage made to other political issues that are completely unrelated to the professional discussions of the General Conference," he said, noting that Israel regrets that the item has once again been "imposed on this professional forum."