Iranian regime sharply increased uranium enrichment amid recent conflict with Israel – IAEA

Amid the escalating confrontation with Israel and its two large-scale direct assaults against the Jewish state this year, the Iranian regime has sharply increased its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, according to a report by the United Nations Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA).

Iran’s reserve of uranium enriched to 60%, a level just below the threshold required to produce nuclear weapons, has increased by 17.6 kilograms to a total of 182.3 kilograms, equivalent to nearly 402 pounds, the nuclear watchdog IAEA reported in a recent document cited by The Wall Street Journal.

The IAEA stated that Iran is the only nation that doesn’t have nuclear weapons but possesses 60% – near weapons-grade – enriched uranium. The current stockpile gives the regime enough material to build four nuclear bombs.

Based on the new IAEA quarterly report, Iran’s breakout timelines to make WGU are now shorter than in August. It can now make enough WGU, taken as 25 kg per weapon, for almost ten nuclear weapons in one month, 13 in two months, 14 in three months, 15 in four months, and 16 in…

— David Albright (@DAVIDHALBRIGHT1) November 19, 2024

U.S. officials believe it would take the regime several months to be able to build such a weapon, adding that it isn’t currently doing so. However, the assessment came before Israel reportedly destroyed an active research site in the Parchin complex, potentially preventing Iranian efforts to produce The Bomb.

The IAEA report stated that during meetings this week between agency chief Rafael Grossi with Iranian officials, Iran proposed halting uranium enrichment in exchange for the IAEA stopping an impending official condemnation of the regime’s recent actions, including blocking inspectors from visiting certain sites.

Shortly after, the agency confirmed that Iran had taken some “preparatory measures aimed at stopping the increase of its stockpile” at two major enrichment sites.

“A cap on 60% enriched uranium production would not stop further shortening of breakout timelines because Iran would continue making <5 and near 20 percent enriched uranium and installing more advanced centrifuges,” said David Albright, president of the Institute for Science and International Security, a nuclear proliferation think tank.

The IAEA report also stated that Iran removed cameras and monitoring equipment at some sites, and said the agency cannot exclude the possibility that uranium hasn’t been moved to covert facilities where it cannot be monitored

IAEA board members are set to meet at the end of the week, with the United Kingdom, France and Germany reportedly circulating a draft resolution to condemn Tehran’s lack of responsiveness and calling for the creation of a comprehensive list of unresolved questions about the regime’s nuclear plans.

The United States has already signaled its approval, and the resolution may lead to the UN Security Council taking measures against the Iranian regime. The resolution may also serve as a first step to preparing the snapback of sanctions that were suspended as part of the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal, which was dissolved by the Trump administration.

Officials have already indicated that the “maximum pressure” policy against Iran’s economy will be reinstated during the second Trump administration, which begins in January 2025.

Iran has warned European states against adopting the resolution.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said this would “complicate matters” and contradict the “positive atmosphere created between Iran and the IAEA.”

In a more drastic warning on 𝕏, Araghchi wrote last week: “Attempting Maximum Pressure 2.0 will only result in Maximum Defeat 2.0.”