The International Atomic Energy Agency reported on Tuesday that Iran has increased the pace of uranium enrichment again.
Iran refuses to remove uranium from its territory (Archive)
Reuters reports that the rate of uranium enrichment now stands at up to 60%, close to the level of weapons, and Iran has returned to a rate of about 9 kg per month from the reduced rate of 3 kg. "The Atomic Energy Intelligence Agency has confirmed that Iran has increased production of UF6 (uranium hexafluoride) enriched by up to 60% U-235 to about 9 kg per month since the end of November in these two facilities combined." The UN nuclear watchman said in a statement, referring to the Fordow nuclear enrichment facility, and the Natanz site.
The facility at Natanz (archive), photo: AP
Only recently it was reported that Iran's production of uranium enriched to 60% has dropped significantly. According to the report, the production rate dropped from 9 kg per month to three. In total, Iran had 3,795.5kg of uranium last September, 949kg less than in May. However, this is still 18 times the amount agreed upon in the 2015 nuclear agreement. Former US President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal in May 2018, and following the move, Tehran accelerated enrichment.
The enrichment facility at Natanz, photo: AP
The IAEA pointed to problems in supervising the nuclear program. According to the Associated Press, Tehran has refused, among other things, visas for inspectors. The IAEA has also not had access to the surveillance cameras since February 2021.
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