A confidential report from the UN nuclear watchdog said on Saturday that Iran further increased its uranium stockpile, rich in weapons-level levels, and called on Tehran to urgently change courses and comply with the agency's investigation.
The report is in a sensitive period when Tehran and Washington hold it Several rounds of conversations In the past few weeks, a possible nuclear deal has been attempted by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (see by the Associated Press) said that as of May 17, Iran had accumulated 900.8 pounds of uranium, enriching 60%.
This has increased by 294.9 pounds, or almost 50% since the last IAEA report in February. 60% enriched material away from 90% weapon-grade level for short-lived, technology. A February report put the inventory level at 605.8 pounds.
Tehran did not immediately comment on the new IAEA report.
The IAEA report has raised a harsh warning that Iran is now "the only non-nuclear-weapon state that produces such materials" - what the agency calls "serious concern".
According to the watchdog data, in theory, about 92.5 pounds of 60% enriched uranium is enough to produce an atomic bomb, if further enriched to 90%.
The International Atomic Energy Agency Report (IAEA) report also estimates that as of May 17, Iran's overall reserves of uranium enrichment (including enrichment to lower levels) were 20,387.4 pounds. This has increased by 2,101.4 pounds since the February report.
Iran's nuclear program
Iran maintains Nuclear Program For peace purposes only, but IAEA head Rafael Mariano Grossi warned that Tehran has enough uranium to near weapon level, and if he chooses to do so, he can create "several" nuclear bombs.
Iranian officials are increasingly suggesting Tehran can hunt down the atomic bomb.
U.S. intelligence agencies assess that Iran has not launched a weapon program, but “the activities carried out can better position its production of nuclear devices (if you choose to do so).
Israel said Saturday’s report was a clear warning that “Iran is fully determined to complete its nuclear weapons program,” according to a statement from Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
It said the IAEA report “strongly strengthens what Israel has been saying for years – the purpose of Iran’s nuclear program is not peace.”
It also added that Iran's abundance "has no reason for civilians" and appealed to the international community to "take immediate action to stop Iran."
Netanyahu rarely makes statements on Saturday's Jewish Day off-day, which is the urgency he sees.
Grossi said on Saturday that he “reaffirmed the urgent appeal to Iran to cooperate completely and effectively” IAEA's investigation over the years Enter traces of uranium found in several locations in Iran.
The IAEA also circulated a second 22-page confidential report to member states on Saturday, which was also seen by the AP, requested after a resolution passed by the 35-member IAEA Committee last November.
In this so-called "comprehensive report", the IAEA said Iran's cooperation with the agency was "dissatisfied" with traces of uranium found by IAEA inspectors at several sites in Iran, namely Tehran failed to declare a nuclear site.
Western officials suspect traces of uranium found by the IAEA can provide evidence that Iran did not have a secret military nuclear program until 2003.
One of the sites became publicly known in 2018 after Netanyahu revealed it at the United Nations and called it a secret nuclear warehouse hidden in a carpet cleaning plant.
Iran denied this, but in 2019, IAEA inspectors found artificial uranium particles there.
After initially blocking the IAEA, inspectors were able to collect samples from two other locations in 2020, where they also detected the presence of artificial uranium particles.
These three locations are called Turquzabad, Varamin and Marivan. The fourth unannounced location, known as Lavisan-Shian, is also part of the IAEA investigation, but IAEA inspectors have never visited the site because it was razed and demolished by Iran after 2003.
In Saturday's comprehensive report, the IAEA said the "lack of answers and clarification" of oversees' questions about Lavisan-Shian, Varamin and Marivan led the agency to conclude that the three locations, along with other possible relevant locations, were part of Iran's undefined structural nuclear program until the early 2000s, and used some activities and used the core of the activity's core checking core. ”
How the world responds to the UN report
Saturday's comprehensive report could be the basis for possible further measures by European countries, leading to a gradual escalation of tensions between Iran and the West.
European countries can take action to trigger counterattacks against Iran, which was lifted under the original nuclear agreement before October 2015, which officially expires.
On Thursday, senior Iranian officials dismissed speculation about an imminent nuclear deal with the United States, stressing that any agreement must Completely increase sanctions and allow the country's nuclear program to continue.
The comments were posted on Trump that he had told Netanyahu to postpone a strike in Iran to give the U.S. government more time to engage in new deals with Tehran.
Trump said Friday that he still believes the agreement can be completed in the "next future."
"They don't want to be bombed. They would rather have a deal," Trump said of Iran, adding: "It would be a great thing, we can have a deal without bombs falling across the Middle East."