Iran expanding its stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium, warns UN
- 19 November, 13:46
Iran has further increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to nearly weapons-grade levels, defying international demands, according to a confidential report from the United Nations' nuclear watchdog
According a quarterly report issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as of October 26, Iran possesses 182.3 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, marking an increase of 17.6 kilograms since the previous report in August.
Uranium enriched at 60% purity is only a short, technical step from the weapons-grade threshold of 90%. In its quarterly report, the IAEA estimated that Iran's total stockpile of enriched uranium has reached 6,604.4 kilograms, which reflects an increase of 852.6 kilograms since the last report in August. The IAEA defines that approximately 42 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% purity could theoretically be sufficient to create one atomic weapon, provided the material is further enriched to 90%.
Iran's current holdings exceed the limit set by a 2015 agreement with world powers to curtail its nuclear program by more than 32 times.
The IAEA’s report emerged at a crucial moment, as Israel and Iran have exchanged missile strikes in recent months following over a year of conflict in Gaza, which is ruled by Hamas, an organization backed by Iran.
