US pressures France, Britain not to censure Iran over increased production of weapons-grade uranium | The Jewish Press – JewishPress.com | Hana Levi Julien | 20 Iyyar 5784 – Monday May 27, 2024

The Biden administration is pressuring France and Britain not to vote to censure Iran next month at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board meeting ) United Nations.

The move comes despite the fact that Iran has significantly expanded its stockpile of near-weapon-grade fissile material, according to a confidential May 27 IAEA report seen by a handful of journalists.

The IAEA reported on Monday that as of May 11, 2024, Iran's stockpile of 60% highly enriched uranium had increased by 20.6 kilograms to 142.1 kilograms since its February report – its highest level to date. day, according to the agency. Wall Street Journal reported.

According to the IAEA, Iran's overall stockpile of enriched uranium currently stands at 6,201.3 kilograms (13,671.5 pounds), representing an increase of 675.8 kilograms (1,489.8 pounds). ) since February.

The IAEA also said the deaths of Iran's president and foreign minister in a helicopter crash on May 19 had forced a pause in negotiations between the nuclear watchdog and Tehran on improving cooperation .

US officials warn that Iran's stockpiles of highly enriched uranium could be converted to weapons-grade uranium – enriched to 90% purity – within days. They warn that Iran currently has enough highly enriched uranium to fuel three nuclear weapons, once converted.

Nevertheless, the White House is working to prevent the IAEA from censoring the Islamic Republic in the run-up to the US presidential elections in November.

According to the report, White House officials told their European counterparts that the United States would abstain in the vote, scheduled for early June, and urged them to do the same.

US officials have denied reporting, according to WSJ. “Any speculation about decisions is premature,” said a US official in Washington. WSJ.

“We are increasing pressure on Iran through sanctions and international isolation,” the official added, citing actions taken by the Group of Seven advanced democracies after an Iranian missile and drone attack on Israel last month. last.

The Biden administration has long sought to reach another nuclear deal with Iran, as have European leaders.

But Europeans now warn that failure to act against Iran's nuclear exit race could undermine the IAEA's authority, while weakening the credibility of threats of Western sanctions against the IAEA's nuclear activities. Iran.

The IAEA noted in its December 26, 2023 report that Iran produced approximately nine kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% uranium-235 per month.

Iran was producing 60% enriched U-235 at a similar rate in early 2023, but cut production by about two-thirds in June, according to the Arms Control Association.

The ramp-up in the production of uranium enriched to 60 percent uranium-235 is concerning because this material can be rapidly enriched to weapons-grade levels or to 90 percent, the ACA noted.