DUBAI, UAE (CP) – Iran has increased its enriched uranium stockpile to 900 pounds according to a new International Atomic Energy Agency report, as President Donald Trump announces the USA and Iran are close to reaching a nuclear agreement that could prevent military action against Tehran’s nuclear facilities.
Iran produced almost 300 pounds of uranium enriched to 60 percent since February, bringing its total stockpile to about 900 pounds, according to people familiar with the classified IAEA report. The 60 percent enrichment level is only one step away from the 90 percent needed to fuel a nuclear weapon. Trump told reporters Friday that Iran does not want to face military consequences and would rather make a deal with the USA. “They don’t want to be blown up,” Trump said in the Oval Office. “They would rather make a deal, and I think that could happen in the not-too-distant future.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi received elements of a USA proposal through Oman and said Iran would respond according to its national interests. However, Araghchi stated that Iran would not stop uranium enrichment completely, saying it was unacceptable for others to impose restrictions just because they consider themselves powerful. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office called the IAEA report a clear warning sign that Iran is determined to complete its nuclear weapons program, though Netanyahu has agreed to hold off on military action while USA negotiations continue.
The main disagreement in talks centers on whether Iran can continue any uranium enrichment, which has peaceful uses for research and energy at low levels. Iran says the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty allows enrichment and claims it has no intention of building nuclear weapons. The Trump administration wants all enrichment capability destroyed in exchange for lifting economic sanctions on Iran. Nuclear expert David Albright noted that Iran’s current stockpile could produce 10 nuclear weapons, though Iran has not developed delivery systems for nuclear warheads.
Various USA proposals include removing all enriched uranium from Iran and destroying centrifuges used for enrichment, or allowing a consortium including Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries to produce low-enriched uranium for Tehran’s research needs. Trump has indicated he wants strong inspection rights for the USA, including the ability to destroy facilities if necessary. A separate IAEA report found that Iran conducted secret nuclear activities more than twenty years ago at three undeclared locations and continues to refuse answering questions about these sites.