Iran edges closer to nuclear capability, says IAEA report
Iran has accelerated its production of uranium enriched to 60 per cent, bringing it closer to the level needed for the production of nuclear weapons, reported the Associated Press, citing two confidential reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The significant acceleration in production and accumulation of highly enriched uranium by Iran, the only non-nuclear-armed state that produces nuclear material, is a cause for great concern, noted one of the IAEA reports.
IAEA: Iran has significantly increased its stockpile of enriched uranium
Bloomberg, which also cites the international agency's report, notes that in just the last three months, Iran has accumulated approximately 134 kilograms of highly enriched uranium and currently possesses around 408 kilograms of this substance. This volume of material, after further enrichment, can be used to create cores for approximately 10 atomic bombs.
The IAEA data pertains to the state as of 17 May. The agency emphasises that about 42 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 per cent is enough to produce one atomic bomb if enriched to 90 per cent.
The key concerns stem from the "unsatisfactory" cooperation with Iran, which has evaded providing answers and has not supplied credible technical information on the matter. Tehran responded to the call in this matter following statements by President Donald Trump, assuring that it will not halt its nuclear programme.
The reports emerged amid a deadlock in the Iranian-American negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme, which began on 12 April. To date, five rounds of talks have been held, and both sides have hardened their positions. Iran does not agree to a total ban on uranium enrichment while assuring that its nuclear policy is peaceful. The Americans, on the other hand, accuse Tehran of working on nuclear weapons.
