VIENNA (AP) 鈥� Iran has accelerated its production of near weapons-grade uranium as tensions between Tehran and Washington rise after the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, a report by the United Nations鈥� nuclear watchdog seen by The Associated Press on Wednesday showed.
The report by the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency said that as of Feb. 8, Iran has 274.8 kilograms (605.8 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60%. That鈥檚 an increase of 92.5 kilograms (203.9 pounds) since the IAEA鈥檚 .
That material is a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%.
A report in November 2024 put the stockpile at 182.3 kilograms (401.9 pounds). It had 164.7 kilograms (363.1 pounds) last August.
鈥淭he significantly increased production and accumulation of high enriched uranium by Iran, the only non-nuclear weapon State to produce such nuclear material, is of serious concern,鈥� the confidential report stated. According to the IAEA, approximately 42 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium is theoretically enough to produce one atomic bomb, if enriched further to 90%.
The IAEA also estimated in its quarterly report that as of Feb. 8, Iran鈥檚 overall stockpile of enriched uranium stands at 8,294.4 kilograms (18,286 pounds), which represents an increase of 1,690.0 kilograms (3725.8 pounds) since the last report in November.
During his first presidential term, Trump with world powers and reimposed sanctions on Iran. He also ordered the 2020 , who led the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps鈥� Quds Force.
Iran signals it could pursue nuclear weapons
Iran has maintained its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, but the IAEA chief, that Tehran has enough uranium enriched to near-weapons-grade levels if it chose to do so.
Iranian officials have increasingly suggested Tehran could pursue an atomic bomb. U.S. intelligence agencies assess that Iran has yet to begin a weapons program, but has 鈥渦ndertaken activities that better position it to produce a nuclear device, if it chooses to do so.鈥�
Iran鈥檚 accelerated production of near weapons-grade uranium puts more pressure on Trump as he鈥檚 repeatedly said he鈥檚 open to negotiations with the Islamic Republic while also increasingly targeting Iran鈥檚 oil sales with sanctions as part of his 鈥渕aximum pressure鈥� policy.
Even Iran鈥檚 Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters, in a speech in August , saying there is 鈥渘o harm鈥� in engaging with the 鈥渆nemy.鈥�
More recently, , saying that negotiations with America 鈥渁re not intelligent, wise or honorable鈥� after Trump floated nuclear talks with Tehran.
Iran refuses to reconsider ban on IAEA inspectors
The IAEA already that Iran was poised to 鈥渜uite dramatically鈥� increase its stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium as it has started operating cascades of advanced centrifuges.
That move came as a response to the Board of Governors at the IAEA passing a resolution with the agency. In the past, Iran has repeatedly responded to resolutions by the IAEA Board of Governors by further enhancing its nuclear program.
Wednesday鈥檚 report also said that Iran has also not reconsidered its September 2023 decision to ban some of the agency鈥檚 most experienced inspectors from monitoring its nuclear program.
鈥淭he Director General deeply regrets that Iran, despite having indicated a willingness to consider accepting the designation of four additional experienced Agency inspectors, did not accept their designations,鈥� the report said.
Additionally, the report says that 鈥渘o progress was made towards resolving the outstanding safeguards issues in relations to Varamin and Turquzabad,鈥� the two locations in Iran where the nuclear watchdog has questions about the origin and location of man-made uranium particles found there.
The report also said that IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi held telephone discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at the beginning of this year, during which he 鈥渞eiterated his readiness to work with Iran to resume implementation" of a deal the agency and Tehran agreed two years ago.
included a pledge by Iran to resolve issues around Varamin and Turquzabad where inspectors have questions about possible undeclared nuclear activity, and to allow the IAEA to 鈥渋mplement further appropriate verification and monitoring activities.鈥�
鈥淔oreign Minister Araghchi indicated Iran鈥檚 preparedness to cooperate with the Agency and raised the possibility of the Director General visiting Tehran again,鈥� the report said.
The Associated Press
