(RepublicanPress.org) – The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an autonomous organization established by the United Nations to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and oversee its use for military purposes, including fission and fusion bombs. The watchdog group recently issued a report noting that Iran is harvesting record amounts of uranium for its strategic nuclear program.
On May 27, The Associated Press (AP) published an article discussing the news agency’s review of a confidential report recently sent to UN member states by the IAEA. The reports warned that Iranian officials had further increased the rogue country’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium (HEU).
The IAEA’s quarterly report showed that Iran has 13,671.5 pounds (6,201.3 kilograms) of enriched uranium and 313.2 pounds (142.1 kilograms) of uranium enriched to as much as 60% as of May 11. The AP previously reported that the watchdog estimated that as of February 10, Iran had 12,182 pounds (5,525.5 kilograms) of enriched uranium and “an estimated” 267.8 pounds (121.5 kilograms) of the material “enriched up to 60%.”
Those figures indicated a total increase of enriched uranium of 1,489.5 pounds (667 kilograms) and 45.4 pounds (20.6 kilograms) of the material enriched as high as 60%. The report noted that the February figures reflected an increase of 267.8 pounds (121.5 kilograms) and a decrease of 14.9 pounds (6.8 kilograms) since the IAEA’s November 2023 quarterly report.
The agency defines weapons-grade HEU as uranium “enriched to 90% or greater.” Putting that figure in perspective, the AP’s latest article estimated that according to the IAEA’s standards, it is “theoretically possible” to create one nuclear bomb using about 92.5 pounds (42 kilograms) of uranium enriched to 60% if it is increased to weapons-grade.
Reuters recently reported that the May 19 death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country’s defense minister delayed talks between the rogue nation and the IAEA on hold. However, the IAEA’s director general, Rafael Grossi, said once the mourning period concluded, “we are going to be engaging” with the Iranians again.
Rossi indicated that he hoped the delay would only last a few days. So far, the IAEA hasn’t indicated that talks had resumed.
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