Watchdog: Iran boosts supply of nearly weapons-grade uranium

 

The UN nuclear watchdog says Iran has expanded its stockpile of enriched uranium. This refinement has reached close to weapon construction levels. This step is contrary to international demands. They did, however, allow the agency's experienced nuclear inspectors to inspect the country's nuclear program.

News agencies have seen the confidential International Atomic Energy Agency report on Thursday.

With the recent election of Masoud Pezeshkian as president of Iran and the upcoming US presidential election in November, nuclear diplomacy with Iran has stalled.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said in a report sent to member states on Thursday that he hoped "he will visit Iran soon after his initial exchange with Pezeshkian and lead to a flexible but constructive dialogue that will quickly lead to an objective outcome."

The report revealed that as of August 17, Iran had 164.7 kilograms of uranium, 60% of which was enriched, 22.6 kilograms more than the International Atomic Energy Agency had given in May.

Although 60% enriched uranium is less than 90% enriched for weapons, Iranian officials have repeatedly threatened that they could move toward nuclear weapons.

Grassi has warned that Iran has enough enriched uranium close to weapons-grade to build multiple nuclear bombs.

Two years of International Atomic Energy Agency reports have made no progress on the matter. Iran does not allow agency inspectors to visit the country's nuclear facilities. Iran has also offered no explanation as to why signs of uranium were found outside the declared nuclear zone.

Apart from that, the report also stated that Iran has added at least eight clusters of centrifuges at major refining sites. A centrifuge is a machine that refines uranium. However, this report states that these new machines are not yet refining uranium.

The world's major powers reached an important agreement with Iran aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program. Iran In return for the deal, economic sanctions on Iran were lifted. However, that agreement fell apart in 2018 when the administration of then-US President Donald Trump pulled out of the agreement. Trump's move gave Iran free rein to refine 60% of its uranium to weapons-grade levels.

Some information in this report was taken from AP and Reuters.