VIENNA (AP) 鈥� Iran has defied international demands to rein in its nuclear program and has increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels, according to a confidential report by the United Nations鈥� nuclear watchdog seen Tuesday by The Associated Press.
The report by the International Atomic Energy Agency said that as of Oct. 26, Iran has 182.3 kilograms (401.9 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60%, an increase of 17.6 kilograms (38.8 pounds) .
Uranium enriched at 60% purity is just a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%.
The IAEA also estimated in its quarterly report that as of Oct. 26, Iran鈥檚 overall stockpile of enriched uranium stands at 6,604.4 kilograms (14,560 pounds), an increase of 852.6 kilograms (1,879.6 pounds) since August. Under the IAEA鈥檚 definition, around 42 kilograms (92.5 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60% purity is the amount at which creating one atomic weapon is theoretically possible 鈥� if the material is enriched further, to 90%.
The reports come at a critical time as Israel and Iran have traded missile attacks in recent months after more than a year of , which is governed by Hamas, a group supported by Iran.
Adding to the complexity, Donald Trump鈥檚 reelection raises questions about
Trump鈥檚 first term in office was marked by a particularly troubled period, when he pursued a policy of 鈥渕aximum pressure鈥� against Tehran. He unilaterally withdrew America from Iran鈥檚 nuclear deal with world powers, leading to sanctions hobbling the economy and ordered the .
Western diplomats consider censuring Iran
Iran last week offered not to expand its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60%, , Rafael Mariano Grossi.
The IAEA said during the meetings that 鈥渢he possibility of Iran not further expanding its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% U-235 was discussed, including technical verification measures necessary for the Agency to confirm this, if implemented.鈥�
The report said that one day after Grossi left Iran, on Nov. 16, IAEA inspectors verified that 鈥淚ran had begun implementation of preparatory measures aimed at stopping the increase of its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60 % U-235鈥� at its underground nuclear sites in Fordow and Natanz.
The reports come ahead of this week鈥檚 regular IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna.
A senior western diplomat, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter, confirmed to the AP that the United Kingdom, France and Germany, with the support from the U.S., are going ahead with a resolution at this week鈥檚 IAEA Board of Governors meeting, censuring Iran for its lack of cooperation, leading to potential confrontation with Iran ahead of Trump鈥檚 return to the White House.
鈥淲e remain tightly coordinated with our E3 partners (France, Germany and UK) in advance of the IAEA Board of Governors meeting. And, we strongly support efforts to hold Iran accountable,鈥� U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters Tuesday in Washington.
鈥淭he Iranian regime continues to amass a growing stockpile of highly enriched uranium for which there is no credible civilian purpose and they continue to not cooperate fully with the IAEA,鈥� he added.
A senior diplomat, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said it is possible that the commitments made by Iran during the IAEA鈥檚 chief visit may not stand in case a resolution is passed. In the past, Iran has responded to resolutions by the IAEA Board of Governors by further enhancing its nuclear program.
Iran has maintained its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, but that Tehran has enough uranium enriched to near-weapons-grade levels if it chose to do so. He has acknowledged the U.N. agency cannot guarantee that none of .
Iran鈥檚 mission at the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Little progress on improving ties
The IAEA also reported that Iran has failed to take concrete steps as of now to improve cooperation, despite pleas by Grossi, who held talks last week with Mohammad Eslami of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Iran鈥檚 reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian.
However, Tuesday鈥檚 confidential report also said that during Grossi鈥檚 visit to Iran on Nov. 14, 鈥淚ran agreed to respond to the Agency鈥檚 concerns related to Iran鈥檚 withdrawal of the designation of several experienced Agency inspectors by considering the acceptance of the designation of four additional experienced inspectors.鈥�
In September 2023, Iran barred some of the .
The report also said there was no progress thus far in reinstalling more monitoring equipment, including cameras, removed in June 2022. Since then, the only recorded data comes from IAEA cameras installed at a centrifuge workshop in Isfahan in May 2023 鈥� although Iran has not provided the IAEA with access to this data and inspectors have not been able to service the cameras.
Last week, Eslami warned that Iran could retaliate if challenged at the 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 the lifting of economic sanctions. U.N. inspectors were tasked with monitoring the program
Under the original 2015 nuclear deal, Iran was allowed to enrich uranium only up to 3.67% purity, can maintain a stockpile of uranium of 300 kilograms 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 the U.S. withdrawal from the deal under Trump, Iran started to gradually abandon all limits the deal put on its program and began enriching uranium to up to 60% purity.
Stephanie Liechtenstein, The Associated Press
