On the Brink of Nuclear War? Iran Increases Stockpile of Near Weapons-Grade Uranium As Per UN

Vienna: Iran has defied international demands to rein in its nuclear programme and has increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-gre levels, according to a confidential report by United Nations' nuclear watchdog seen on Tuesday by AP.

report by International Atomic Energy Agency said that as of October 26, Iran has 182.3 kilogrammes of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent, an increase of 17.6 kilogrammes since last report in August.

Uranium enriched at 60 per cent purity is just a short, technical step away from weapons-gre levels of 90 per cent.

IAEA also estimated in its quarterly report that as of October 26, Iran's overall stockpile of enriched uranium stands at 6,604.4 kilogrammes, an increase of 852.6 kilogrammes since August. Under IAEA's definition, around 42 kilogrammes of uranium enriched to 60 per cent purity is amount at which creating one atomic weapon is oretically possible -- if material is enriched furr, to 90 per cent.

reports come at a critical time as Israel and Iran have tred missile attacks in recent months after more than a year of war in Gaza, which is governed by Hamas, a group supported by Iran.

ding to complexity, Donald Trump's reelection raises questions about wher and how incoming ministration and Iran may engage.

Trump's first term in office was marked by a particularly troubled period, when he pursued a policy of "maximum pressure" against Tehran. He unilaterally withdrew America from Iran's nuclear deal with world powers, leing to sanctions hobbling economy and ordered killing of country's top general.

Western diplomats consider censuring IranIran last week offered not to expand its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent, during a visit to Tehran by IAEA chief, Rafael Mariano Grossi.

IAEA said during meetings that " possibility of Iran not furr expanding its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent U-235 was discussed, including technical verification measures necessary for Agency to confirm this, if implemented".

report said that one day after Grossi left Iran, on November 16, IAEA inspectors verified that "Iran h begun implementation of preparatory measures aimed at stopping increase of its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent U-235" at its underground nuclear sites.

reports come ahe of this week's regular IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna.

A western diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed to AP that UK, France and Germany, with support from US, are going ahe with a resolution at this week's IAEA Board of Governors meeting, censuring Iran for its lack of cooperation.

A senior diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it is possible that commitments me by Iran during IAEA's chief visit may not stand in case a resolution is passed. In past, Iran has responded to resolutions by IAEA Board of Governors by furr enhancing its nuclear programme.

Iran has maintained its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only, but Grossi has previously warned that Tehran has enough uranium enriched to near-weapons-gre levels to make "several" nuclear bombs if it chose to do so.

Iran's mission at UN in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

IAEA also reported that Iran has failed to take concrete steps as of now to improve cooperation, despite pleas by Grossi.

However, Tuesday's confidential report also said that during Grossi's visit to Iran on November 14, "Iran agreed to respond to Agency's concerns related to Iran's withdrawal of designation of several experienced Agency inspectors by considering acceptance of designation of four ditional experienced inspectors".

In September 2023, Iran barred some of Vienna-based agency's most experienced inspectors.

report also said re was no progress thus far in reinstalling more monitoring equipment, including cameras, removed in June 2022. Since n, only recorded data comes from IAEA cameras installed at a centrifuge workshop in Isfahan in May 2023 -- although Iran has not provided IAEA with access to this data and inspectors have not been able to service cameras.

Last week, Eslami warned that Iran could retaliate if challenged at upcoming IAEA board meeting. Grossi acknowledged some nations were considering taking action against Iran.

In an effort to ensure Iran could not develop atomic weapons, world powers struck a deal with Tehran in 2015 under which it agreed to limit enrichment of uranium to levels necessary for nuclear power in exchange for lifting of economic sanctions. UN inspectors were tasked with monitoring programme.

Under original 2015 nuclear deal, Iran was allowed to enrich uranium only up to 3.67 per cent purity, can maintain a stockpile of uranium of 300 kilogrammes and is permitted to use only very basic IR-1 centrifuges, machines that spin uranium gas at high speed for enrichment purposes.

A year after US withdrawal from deal under Trump, Iran started to grually abandon all limits deal put on its programme and began enriching uranium to up to 60 per cent purity. 

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