ABSTRACT
On August 14, 2002, an Iranian exile group, the Mujahedin-eKhalq publicly released intelligence information about the clandestine nuclear activities at Natanz and Arak. The big reveal included information on a Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant, a Fuel Enrichment Plant, Iran Nuclear Research Reactor and the exact coordinates of the buildings and size were included in the range of nuclear activities. As mandated by Iran’s safeguard agreement with the IAEA, Iran was obligated to report to the Agency about all its nuclear activities; however, since these clandestine activities were outside of the IAEA’s knowledge, they had escaped the Agency’s verification and monitoring. Since uranium enrichment is identified as one of key steps in building nuclear weapons, the proponents and the opponents of the nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), view the issue of Iran’s enrichment differently. Through the conclusion of the JCPOA, one of the nuclear stalemates achieved a breakthrough.
