Iran increases its uranium stockpile to near weapons-grade levels.

Despite international pressure, Iran has increased its stockpile of enriched uranium to near weapons-grade levels, according to a confidential report by the United Nations nuclear watchdog.

According to a November 19 report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as of October 26, Iran possessed 182.3 kg of enriched uranium at a purity of up to 60%. This figure represents an increase of 17.6 kg compared to the most recent report in August.

Uranium enriched to 60% purity is a short technical step towards reaching the 90% purity level suitable for weapons.

The IAEA also estimated in its quarterly report that as of October 26, Iran's total stockpile of enriched uranium was 6,604.4 kg, an increase of 852.6 kg since August. According to the IAEA's definition, approximately 42 kg of 90% enriched uranium is the amount that could theoretically produce a nuclear weapon.

The reports come at a critical time, as Israel and Iran have been conducting missile attacks in recent months.

Flag of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Photo: AP

The IAEA also reported that Iran has yet to take any concrete steps to improve cooperation with the IAEA, despite calls from IAEA Director Rafael Mariano Grossi.

The report also stated that there has been no progress to date in reinstalling the surveillance equipment, including cameras, which were dismantled in June 2022. Since then, the only recorded data has come from IAEA cameras installed at a centrifuge facility in Isfahan in May 2023, although Iran has not provided the IAEA with access to this data and inspectors have been unable to maintain the cameras.

To ensure Iran could not develop nuclear weapons, world powers reached an agreement with Tehran in 2015 under which Tehran agreed to limit uranium enrichment to levels necessary for nuclear power, in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. United Nations inspectors were tasked with monitoring the program.

Under the original 2015 nuclear agreement, Iran was only permitted to enrich uranium to a maximum purity of 3.67%, could maintain a uranium stockpile of 300 kg, and was only allowed to use the very basic IR-1 centrifuge, which spins uranium gas at high speed for enrichment purposes.

A year after the U.S. withdrew from the agreement under President Donald Trump, Iran began gradually abandoning the limits the agreement placed on its program and started enriching uranium to a purity of 60%.

Ngoc Anh (according to AP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/lien-hop-quoc-iran-tang-kho-du-tru-uranium-gan-cap-do-vu-khi-post322116.html