The latest report by the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), published Friday by the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), blasted Tehran for “not provid[ing] any explanations that enable the Agency to clarify the outstanding practical measures,” stoking concerns that Iranian officials may be counting on Western negotiators to drop the demand that Tehran come clean about the possible military dimensions (PMDs) of its nuclear program.

The confidential document was published less than three weeks ahead of the November 24 deadline for the P5+1 global powers to reach a deal with Iran over the latter’s nuclear program:

“Concrete progress is needed on the central issue of whether Iran has worked on nuclear weapons and is maintaining a capability to revive such efforts,” said U.S. expert David Albright and former IAEA chief inspector Olli Heinonen said in a commentary this week.

The U.S.-based Arms Control Association said it would be naive to think that Iran’s leaders would admit to any bomb work.

American lawmakers and Western diplomats have long emphasized the degree to which full Iranian disclosure must be part of any robust and credible deal between Tehran and the West: Inspectors would need a full accounting of Tehran’s atomic work in order to ensure that the Iranians had ceased such work.

State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki on Friday dodged questions on the report, repeatedly telling reporters at the daily briefing that the UN watchdog has an “important role” to play. Psaki refused to reject a scenario under which Washington would accept a nuclear deal with Iran despite continued Iranian stonewalling. Veteran Associated Press reporter Matt Lee pointedly asked Psaki if reports of Iranian intransigence “give you pause about the Iranian’s credibility as a negotiation partner in the P5+1 talks,” to which Psaki responded, “[i]t’s never been about trust.”

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