Iran close to enriching uranium to level needed to create nuclear weapon - Reuters
Illustrative photo: Iran could develop nuclear weapons (Getty Images)
Iran is continuing to enrich uranium to the level needed to make its nuclear weapons, according to reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) obtained by Reuters.
The reports emphasize that the IAEA's negotiations with Iran, aimed at strengthening cooperation, have reached a deadlock. At the same time, Tehran has taken only a small part of the steps it pledged to take in a joint statement of cooperation last year.
"There has been no progress in the past year towards implementing the Joint Statement of 4 March 2023," the IAEA documents say.
In May, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi visited Iran for talks with country officials, but the situation reached a deadlock after the death of Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi in a plane crash.
"The Director General reiterates to the new government of Iran his call for, and disposition to continue with, the high-level dialogue and ensuing technical exchanges commenced ... on 6-7 May 2024," the reports say.
One of the reports says that the stockpile of uranium enriched to 60%, close to 90% of the uranium needed for nuclear weapons, increased by 20.6 kg to 142.1 kg in just one quarter.
According to Reuters, if Iran continues to enrich uranium, it could theoretically produce three types of nuclear weapons.
Background
Last year, the IAEA found that Iran had increased the rate of production of enriched uranium, which is necessary to create nuclear weapons.
In January of this year, Grossi said that Iran had enough enriched uranium to make several nuclear warheads.
