The U.N. nuclear watchdog warned in a confidential report on Monday that Iran is reportedly further boosting its supplies of enriched uranium.
Tehran has about 313.2 pounds of uranium enriched to 60 percent, up 45.4 pounds from the International Atomic Energy Agency’s last report in February. The Associated Press reported..
According to the agency, if a country had a stockpile of about 92.5 pounds of uranium enriched to 60 percent, it would theoretically be able to build a nuclear weapon.
This is not far from weapons-grade purity, which is generally considered to be around 90%.
According to the Associated Press, Iran’s total stockpile of enriched uranium is estimated at about 13,671.5 pounds, up from 1,489.8 pounds in the previous report.
Iran has long strongly denied allegations that it is developing nuclear weapons, with government officials citing a fatwa, or Islamic legal ruling, by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Western Experts have long been known to issue fatwas He also expressed concern that Tehran was seeking to become a nuclear power.
If Iran acquires nuclear weapons, it could trigger a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia They will develop accordingly and quickly.
Iran has been pushing the envelope when it comes to its nuclear program as it struggles with the onslaught of crippling economic sanctions and the pressure of an end to the U.S.-backed nuclear deal.
The Obama administration reached the agreement in 2015, but former President Donald Trump withdrew from it in 2018.
The deal included sanctions relief in exchange for Iran placing limits on its nuclear program and phasing it out over time.
President Biden’s administration has long been rumored to be seeking to revive the agreement, but nothing has materialized so far.
Instead, relations between the two countries have been strained by Israel’s war with Hamas. Last month, Iran and Israel exchanged attacks on each other after Israel, a U.S. ally, allegedly killed a senior Quds Force commander and another Islamic Revolutionary Guard officer during an attack in Syria.
Iran has recently been reeling from a helicopter crash earlier this month that killed President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdullahian.
Following the death of Raisi, who was widely seen as the leading candidate to succeed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, Mohammed Mokbel became Iran’s acting president.
According to a new report from the Associated Press, Raisi’s death has put a pause on talks between the agency and Iran on building better cooperation.
According to reports, watchdogs are still seeking answers about the origin and location of the undeclared artificial uranium particles in Iran.
Officials also claim that no further progress has been made in efforts to install more powerful surveillance equipment inside Iran. It was removed in June 2022..
In September 2023, Iran Ban Multiple nuclear inspectors were present. Tehran has yet to reverse its decision.
With post wire
