UN nuclear watchdog flags Iran’s growing uranium stockpile amid talks with US

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as of May 17, Iran has accumulated 408.6 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent—a 50 per cent rise from February’s 274.8 kilograms. This level is just a technical step away from the 90 per cent enrichment needed for nuclear weapons.

The IAEA warned that Iran is now “the only non-nuclear-weapon state to produce such material”— a development it described as a “serious concern.” The agency noted that it is enough for about 10 nuclear weapons if further refined as “approximately 42 kilograms of 60 per cent enriched uranium” is enough, if further enriched, to produce one atomic bomb.

Though Iran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has previously warned that the country now possesses enough enriched uranium to potentially make “several” nuclear bombs. Meanwhile, US intelligence assessments say Iran has not yet launched a weapons programme but has “undertaken activities that better position it to produce a nuclear device, if it chooses to do so,” AP reported.

Last year, Iran had also announced the building a fourth nuclear research reactor in the city, days after announcing the construction a new nuclear power plant complex in the south of the country. (Reuters Photo)

Grossi on Saturday reiterated his “urgent call upon Iran to cooperate fully and effectively” with the IAEA’s years-long investigation into unexplained uranium traces found at several undeclared sites.

A second 22-page report, also shared confidentially with member states, criticised Iran’s cooperation as “less than satisfactory” and cited continuing concerns over locations where uranium particles were detected. These include Turquzabad, Varamin, and Marivan—sites the IAEA believes were linked to a “structured nuclear programme” carried out until the early 2000s using undeclared nuclear material.

One of these locations, Turquzabad, was first revealed in 2018 by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who described it as a “clandestine nuclear warehouse” disguised as a rug-cleaning facility. Iran denied the claim, but IAEA inspectors later found manmade uranium particles there.

A fourth site, Lavisan-Shian, which was demolished by Iran after 2003, remains part of the IAEA’s probe despite never being inspected.

The report could prompt further action from European countries, potentially including the reimposition of snapback sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal, which is set to formally expire in October.

Iranian officials have downplayed expectations of a deal. On Thursday, senior figures in Tehran said any agreement must involve the full lifting of sanctions and permit continued nuclear development.

Deal: “Not too distant future”

Their remarks followed President Trump’s comment that he had urged Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to delay any strike on Iran, giving Washington more time to pursue diplomacy.

Trump said on Friday that he still believes a deal is possible in the “not too distant future.”

“They don’t want to be blown up. They would rather make a deal,” he said of Iran. He added, “That would be a great thing that we could have a deal without bombs being dropped all over the Middle East.”

However, Israel on Saturday accused Iran of being “totally determined” to acquire nuclear weapons.

“Such a level of enrichment exists only in countries actively pursuing nuclear weapons and has no civilian justification whatsoever,” said a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated Tehran’s opposition to nuclear arms.

“If the issue is nuclear weapons, yes, we too consider this type of weapon unacceptable,” Araghchi, who is also Iran’s lead negotiator in the US-Iran talks, said in a televised speech, as per BBC. “We agree with them on this issue.”

(With inputs from Associated Press, BBC, Reuters)

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