New UN report says Iran has further increased its enriched uranium stockpile

By AP 15 November 2023, 9:45 pm

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This photo released November 5, 2019, by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran shows centrifuge machines in the Natanz uranium enrichment facility near Natanz, Iran. (Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AP, File)

Iran has further increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to nearly weapons-grade levels, according to a report by the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog seen by The Associated Press today.

The International Atomic Energy Agency also says that Iran has pushed back against the agency’s objections to Tehran’s ban on some of its inspectors designated to monitor the country’s nuclear program.

In its confidential quarterly report distributed to member states, the International Atomic Energy Agency says that according to its assessment, as of October 28, Iran has an estimated 128.3 kilograms (282.9 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60 percent purity, which represents an increase of 6.7 kilograms since its September report.

The IAEA report also estimates that as of October 28, Iran’s total enriched uranium stockpile was at 4,486.8 kilograms, an increase of 691.3 kilograms since the last quarterly report in September 2023.

In a second confidential report distributed to member states, the watchdog says there is no progress thus far in getting more monitoring equipment, including cameras, re-installed that had been removed by Iran in June 2022.