A spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has said that the UN is unable to confirm allegations that Iran has enriched uranium up to 84% of purity.

Speaking to reporters in New York on Tuesday, Stéphane Dujarric said that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) may dispatch a delegation to Tehran this week to examine the claims.

Asked to comment on claims that Iran has increased its enrichment of uranium to 87 per cent, the UN spokesman said: “The only thing I can tell you is, A, we have from this UN Secretariat point of view, no way to verify these claims.”

Dujarric said that the UN has not changed its position with regards to Iran’s nuclear program, adding that Iran is supposed to comply with all the agreements it has signed with the IAEA and other international partners.

“My understanding from what I’ve read is that the IAEA may have a delegation in Tehran this week.  They are in the lead on this.  I would ask you to ask them what… our position, however, remains unchanged — that Iran needs to abide by all its agreements with the IAEA and international partners,” he was quoted as saying by the UN website.

The IAEA released a confidential report to members of its Board of Governors on Tuesday, announcing that consultations are underway to clarify claims about 84% enrichment in Iran.

Iran has ruled out the allegations, saying that the issue has been raised to put pressure on the Islamic Republic.

Source: UN Website and IRNA news agency