Iran has increased its uranium stockpil e- UN nuclear body says

According to a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran has bolstered its supplies of enriched uranium. This development has emerged just days before scheduled discussions in Vienna aimed at reinstating Iran’s 2015 nuclear agreement.

Updated estimates of Iran’s uranium stockpile were cited in the report, released by the IAEA and covered by various media outlets on November 17. The agency’s findings indicated that Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium stands at 2,489.7 kilograms (4,488.8 pounds), exceeding the cap stipulated in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The report also revealed that Iran’s total stockpile of 20 percent enriched uranium had reached 113.8 kilograms (251 pounds) earlier in the month, an increase from 84.3 kilograms (186 pounds) in September. Additionally, Iran was found to possess 17.7 kilograms (39 pounds) of 60 percent enriched uranium, up from the previous 10 kilograms (22 pounds).

In a related statement, Iran’s representative office in Vienna announced that IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi is scheduled to visit Iran and hold a meeting with Iran’s new foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, later in the week. This meeting follows several months during which Grossi had expressed surprise at not having engaged in discussions with senior Iranian officials.

One of the key points of contention appeared to be the activities at a centrifuge parts production site in Karaj, which had not been monitored by the IAEA since June due to reported sabotage. The IAEA refuted Iran’s claims that its cameras were used in the attack on the Karaj site.

Anticipated discussions are likely to be complex, as Iran’s administration is seeking the comprehensive lifting of all US sanctions, including those designated under “terrorism” or human rights labels. Furthermore, Iran is demanding assurance that the US will not withdraw from the agreement in the future. In contrast, the US has emphasized its willingness to only lift sanctions that are deemed “inconsistent” with the JCPOA.