As international discussions regarding Iran’s nuclear program continue, experts are increasingly highlighting the risks associated with plutonium-based weapons development. While much of the public discourse has focused on uranium enrichment, a new report emphasizes that Iran’s two-ton stockpile of spent fuel at the Bushehr reactor represents a significant, often overlooked, proliferation risk.

The core of the proposal involves mandating real-time surveillance by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Proponents of this approach argue that current monitoring protocols are insufficient to prevent the potential diversion of material for military use. By requiring the removal of spent fuel from the Bushehr site, international observers believe they could effectively neutralize the threat posed by the plutonium currently held within the facility.

There is a clear consensus among the experts cited that any future diplomatic framework must prioritize these technical safeguards. The argument is that without addressing the plutonium pathway, any agreement focusing solely on uranium enrichment would be incomplete and potentially ineffective at preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. The proposal underscores the technical complexity of the situation, suggesting that the path to a nuclear device is not limited to a single material, and therefore, oversight must be comprehensive to be considered successful.