Iran's Enriched Uranium Stockpile Grows 30 Times Over 2015 Deal Limit, IAEA Reports

May 27, 2024, 03:37 PM

Iran has significantly increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels, according to a confidential report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). As of May 11, Iran's stock of uranium enriched to up to 60% purity in uranium hexafluoride (UF6) form has grown by 20.6 kg to 142.1 kg. The IAEA report also noted that Iran's enriched uranium stockpile is now more than 30 times the limit set by the 2015 nuclear deal. Additionally, Iran's total stock of enriched uranium has increased by 675.8 kg since the last quarterly report, reaching 6,201.3 kg. The IAEA has expressed concerns about Iran's technical capabilities to produce nuclear weapons and the correctness and completeness of its declarations. According to the IAEA, 42 kg of uranium enriched to 60% and 125 kg of uranium enriched to 20% are theoretically enough, if enriched further, to produce a nuclear bomb. Since May 11, the IAEA verified that Iran had diluted 5.9 kg of uranium enriched to up to 60% by mixing it with 12.5 kg of uranium enriched to up to 2% to produce 18.4 kg of uranium enriched to up to 20%.