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Atomic symbol in front of the Iranian flag: Iran's nuclear program is ongoing
Photo: Dado Ruvic / REUTERS
A report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) raises concerns about the progress of Iran's nuclear program:
on the one hand because the IAEA found uranium with a particularly high degree of purity,
and on the other hand, because Iran is enriching more and more uranium.
High percentage uranium
According to the report, the IAEA found particles of very highly enriched uranium in Iran.
As IAEA boss Rafael Grossi officially confirmed for the first time, the uranium had a purity of 83.7 percent.
That's just under the 90 percent needed for nuclear weapons.
The traces were discovered in January during an inspection of a uranium enrichment facility in Fordow.
The media first reported about it about a week ago.
Iranian authorities told the IAEA that the extremely high level of enrichment was an "unintended fluctuation."
Talks with Tehran to clarify this issue are underway, according to the non-public report, quoted by several news agencies.
"Something like this can happen accidentally or on purpose," said a senior diplomat who closely follows Iran's nuclear program.
However, previous analyzes by the IAEA had shown that only a very small amount of 83.7 percent material had been produced, he said.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi had already pointed out in January that Iran already has enough enriched uranium for several nuclear weapons if the material were to be further enriched.
More and more uranium enriched
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran has now 18 times as much enriched uranium as agreed in the 2015 international nuclear agreement.
According to the report, the amount of enriched uranium now totals 3.76 tons, which is many times the maximum amount of 202.8 kilograms agreed in 2015.
Among other things, the Islamic Republic is said to have almost 435 kilograms of 20 percent uranium, 48 kilograms more than in the previous quarterly report from November.
The stock of 60 percent uranium has increased by 25 kilograms and is currently at almost 88 kilograms.
Tehran has always emphasized that it is only interested in peaceful nuclear technology.
In 2015, Iran committed to restricting its nuclear program.
In return, Western sanctions were lifted.
This pact was intended to prevent the construction of nuclear weapons in the Islamic Republic.
After the United States withdrew from the agreement under then-President Donald Trump in 2018, Tehran responded by expanding uranium enrichment.
Negotiations to revive the nuclear agreement, in which Germany is also involved, have been on hold for months.
The IAEA has repeatedly indicated that it is no longer able to fully oversee Iran's nuclear program.
In February 2021, Tehran began restricting inspectors' access.
ptz/dpa/AP