Mixed results on Iran's P5+1 compliance

On Wednesday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran had moved centrifuges to a different part of the country's Fordo uranium-enrichment site. Officials had pledged to reduce the number of centrifuges in operation. The IAEA also reported that Iran's stockpile of low-enriched uranium has increased by over 1,000 pounds since August.

Iran "has started removing centrifuges and related infrastructure" at both the Natanz and Fordo enrichment facilities, the IAEA announced in its quarterly report, according to news agencies.

The reports show any progress Iran has made toward reducing its ability to make nuclear arms as agreed to with international partners in July. Officials had pledged to reduce nuclear programs that could potentially produce weapons in exchange for sanctions relief.

Iranian officials say they have held back on full implementation until next month's publication of another report that would detail the IAEA's conclusions on whether the country had worked toward creating nuclear arms in the past. They deny the allegations and say the IAEA has based its list of suspected instances of such activity on doctored intelligence.

mkg/jil (Reuters, AFP, AP)