Iran Increases Stockpile of Near Weapons-Grade Uranium: UN

Vienna –

Iran has defied international demands to rein in its nuclear program and has increased its stockpile of enriched uranium to near weapons-grade levels, according to a confidential report by the U.N. nuclear watchdog seen Tuesday by The Associated Press.

The report from the International Atomic Energy Agency said that Iran as of As of October 26, 182.3 kilograms (401.9 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60 percent, an increase of 17.6 kilograms (38.8 pounds) since the last report in August.

Uranium enriched to 60 percent purity is only a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90 percent.

The IAEA also estimated in its quarterly report that Iran’s total stockpile of enriched uranium per October 26 is at 6,604.4 kg (14,560 lb), an increase of 852.6 kg (1,879.6 lb) since August. According to the IAEA’s definition, about 42 kilograms (92.5 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity is the amount with which it is theoretically possible to create one nuclear weapon – if the material is enriched further, to 90 percent.

The reports come at a critical time as Israel and Iran have traded missile strikes in recent months following more than a year of war in Gaza, which is ruled by Hamas, a group backed by Iran.

Adding to the complexity, Donald Trump’s re-election raises questions about whether and how the incoming administration and Iran might engage.

Trump’s first term in office was marked by a particularly turbulent period when he pursued a policy of “maximum pressure” against Tehran. He unilaterally pulled America out of Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers, leading to sanctions that crippled the economy and ordered the assassination of the country’s top general.

Western diplomats consider censoring Iran

Iran last week offered not to expand its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60 percent during a visit to Tehran by IAEA chief Rafael Mariano Grossi.

The IAEA said during the meetings that “the possibility of Iran not further expanding its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60 percent U-235 was discussed, including technical verification measures necessary for the Agency to confirm this if implemented.”

The report said that a day after Grossi left Iran, on November 16, IAEA inspectors confirmed that “Iran had begun implementing preparatory measures aimed at halting the increase in its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60 percent U-235 “underground nuclear facilities at Fordow and Natanz.

The reports come ahead of this week’s regular IAEA board meeting in Vienna.

A senior Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue, confirmed to the AP that Britain, France and Germany, with support from the United States, are moving forward with a decision at this week’s IAEA board. Governors meet and censure Iran for its lack of cooperation, leading to potential confrontation with Iran ahead of Trump’s return to the White House.

“We remain closely coordinated with our E3 partners (France, Germany and the UK) ahead of the IAEA board meeting. And we strongly support efforts to hold Iran accountable,” US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters Tuesday in Washington.

“The Iranian regime continues to amass a growing stockpile of highly enriched uranium for which there is no credible civilian purpose, and they continue not to cooperate fully with the IAEA,” he added.

A senior diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said it is possible that the commitments Iran made during the IAEA chief’s visit may not apply if a resolution is passed. In the past, Iran has responded to resolutions of the IAEA Governing Council by further improving its nuclear program.

Iran has maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, but Grossi has previously warned that Tehran has enough uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels to make “several” nuclear bombs if it chose to do so. He has acknowledged that the UN agency cannot guarantee that none of Iran’s centrifuges may have been siphoned off for clandestine enrichment.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Little progress in improving ties

The IAEA also reported that Iran has failed to take concrete steps at this time to improve cooperation despite pleas from Grossi, who last week held talks with Mohammad Eslami of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Iran’s reformist president Masoud Pezeshkian.

However, Tuesday’s confidential report also said that during Grossi’s Nov. 14 visit to Iran, “Iran has agreed to respond to agency concerns related to Iran’s withdrawal of the designation of several experienced agency inspectors by considering acceptance of the designation of four more experienced inspectors.”

In September 2023, Iran barred some of the Vienna-based agency’s most experienced inspectors.

The report also said there had been no progress so far in reinstalling more surveillance equipment, including cameras removed in June 2022. Since then, the only recorded data comes from IAEA cameras installed at a centrifuge workshop in Isfahan in May 2023 – although Iran has not given the IAEA access to this data, and inspectors have not been able to service the cameras.

Last week, Eslami warned that Iran could retaliate if challenged at the upcoming IAEA board meeting. Grossi acknowledged that some nations were considering taking action against Iran.

In an effort to ensure Iran could not develop nuclear weapons, world powers struck a deal with Tehran in 2015, agreeing to limit uranium enrichment to levels necessary for nuclear power in return for the lifting of economic sanctions. UN inspectors were tasked with monitoring the program.

Under the original 2015 nuclear deal, Iran was only allowed to enrich uranium up to 3.67 percent purity, can maintain a stockpile of 300 kg of uranium, and is only allowed to use very basic IR-1 centrifuges, machines that spin uranium gas at high levels of speed for enrichment purposes.

A year after the U.S. withdrawal from the deal under Trump, Iran began gradually abandoning all limits the deal placed on its program and began enriching uranium to up to 60 percent purity.