A confidential report from the United Nations nuclear watchdog has been revealed. This report, which came out on Thursday, has made shocking revelations about Iran’s nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report says that in defiance of international appeals, Iran has increased its enriched uranium stockpile to close to weapon level.
Big increase in enriched uranium
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency report, as of August 17, Iran had 164.7 kilograms (363.1 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60 percent. This is an increase of 22.6 kilograms (49.8 pounds) since the report released by the IAEA in May.
How close to a nuclear bomb?
Experts say uranium enriched to 60 percent purity is just a small technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90 percent. The IAEA report said Iran has still not responded to the nuclear watchdog’s years-long investigation into the origin and current location of man-made uranium particles found at two locations that Tehran has failed to declare as potential nuclear sites.
Iran is not responding to the UN
According to AP, IAEA chief Rafael Mariano Grossi had earlier warned that Iran has enough weapons-grade enriched uranium to make several nuclear bombs. He has admitted that the UN agency cannot guarantee that any of Iran’s centrifuges would not have been removed for secret enrichment. Earlier, in a letter dated August 8, the IAEA had requested Iran to give it access to the site in the city of Isfahan so that the agency could service its cameras. However, Iran did not respond to the agency.