Iran increases stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium, UN nuclear agency says

Iran's stockpiles of near-weapons-grade uranium have increased by 20.6 kilograms (45.5 pounds) since February, AFP reported Monday, citing a new confidential report from the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The document, which was also seen by the Associated Press, reveals that Tehran has accumulated 142.1 kilograms (313.2 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60 percent. This level of enrichment is only a technical step up from 90 percent enrichment, considered military grade.

According to the IAEA definition, it is technically possible to create an atomic bomb with about 42 kilograms (92.5 pounds) of uranium if the material is enriched to 90%.

Iran continues to intensify its enrichment, while maintaining that its nuclear program is strictly peaceful.

However, Western powers say there is no credible civilian explanation for Tehran's nuclear activities. In 2022, the IAEA released a report saying it could not “provide assurance that Iran's nuclear program is exclusively peaceful.”

According to the IAEA, Iran's total stockpile of enriched uranium now stands at 6,201.3 kilograms (13,671.5 pounds), an increase of 675.8 kilograms (1,489.8 pounds) in three months.

After meetings with Iranian officials earlier this month, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi told reporters that Tehran's cooperation with the organization had been “totally unsatisfactory” in recent months and urged the country to adopt “concrete” measures to address concerns.

There have also been recent Iranian threats of a bomb push. On May 9, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Tehran would weaponize its nuclear program if Israel “threaten its existence.”

Two weeks ago, an MP close to the regime suggested that the country might already have an atomic bomb: “In my opinion, we have obtained nuclear weapons, but we are not announcing it.”

Washington is thwarting European efforts to introduce a resolution against the Iranian regime at the IAEA, Reuters reported on Friday.

A senior European diplomat said the United States was having “difficulties” in moving the resolution forward before the quarterly meeting of the 35-country Governing Council scheduled for June 3 in Vienna.

The diplomat added that “in our conversations, we continue to do everything to convince them.”

The Wall Street Journal cited diplomatic sources saying Monday that the Biden administration had pressured a number of other countries to abstain in a vote of no confidence, saying that was what Washington would do.