The IAEA issued its latest report on Iran’s nuclear program yesterday eliciting an angry response from Tehran.
According to AP, which claims to have seen the report and an accompanying 22-page supplemental, Iran has further increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. The report claims that as of May 17, Iran has amassed 408.6 kg (900.8 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60%. That’s an increase of 133.8 kg (294.9 pounds)—or almost 50%—since the IAEA’s last report in February. The 60% enriched material is a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. A report in February put this stockpile level at 274.8 kg (605.8 pounds).
The IAEA report raised a stern warning, AP continues, saying that Iran is now “the only non-nuclear-weapon state to produce such material”—something the agency said was of “serious concern.” Approximately 42 kg of 60% enriched uranium is theoretically enough to produce one atomic bomb, if enriched further to 90%, according to the watchdog.
The IAEA report, a quarterly, also estimated that as of May 17, Iran’s overall stockpile of enriched uranium—which includes uranium enriched to lower levels—stood at 9,247.6 kg (20,387.4 pounds). That’s an increase of 953.2 kg (2,101.4 pounds) since February’s report.
Iran has maintained its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, but the IAEA chief, Rafael Mariano Grossi, has warned that Tehran has enough uranium enriched to near-weapons-grade levels to make “several” nuclear bombs if it chose to do so.
Grossi said May 31 that he “reiterates his urgent call upon Iran to cooperate fully and effectively” with the IAEA’s years-long investigation into uranium traces discovered at several sites in Iran.
The IAEA also circulated to member states on May 31 a second, 22-page confidential report, also seen by the AP, that Grossi was asked to produce, following a resolution passed by the 35-member IAEA Board of Governors last November. In this so-called “comprehensive report,” the IAEA said that Iran’s cooperation with the agency has “been less than satisfactory” when it comes to uranium traces discovered by IAEA inspectors at several locations in Iran that Tehran has failed to declare as nuclear sites.
