Iran: Nuclear activities continue despite intensified dialogue

Tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme remain high. Efforts to reach a diplomatic solution seem to have flagged after P5+1 talks in Moscowin June ended in disappointment (GSN 928/6).A 30 August report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) raised particular concerns that Iran has increased enrichment capacity at the underground Fordow plant near Qom, and that, since February 2012, there has been a flurry of activity intended to sanitise Parchin, a military complex 30km fromTehran which theIAEA has been trying to access.The IAEA also reported a growing stockpile of enriched uranium.