IAEA: United Nations agency claims – Iran is very close to making nuclear weapons

UN's nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in its latest report has claimed that Iran has developed uranium particles enriched to 83.7% purity in its nuclear enrichment plant and is very close to making nuclear weapons.

In a report, AFP quoted the IAEA as saying that discussions are still ongoing to trace the origin of these particles. Asked about the particles found in Iran, the Tehran government said there could be "unexpected fluctuations" during the enrichment process.

Iran struck a deal with world powers in 2015 to limit the enrichment of uranium and allow IAEA inspectors to visit its nuclear sites in exchange for the removal of economic sanctions. But in 2018 this agreement got stalled.

Iran has been enriching uranium beyond the limits set in the deal, and the IAEA believes that its estimated reserves are 18 times greater than the limit set in that deal.

The IAEA report states that during the inspection on 22 January 2023, the agency took environmental samples. at the Fordow (sic) plant whose analytical results showed the presence of highly enriched uranium particles up to 83.7 percent U-235.

These incidents indicate the agency's ability to detect and timely report changes in the operations of nuclear facilities in Iran.

In the report, the UN nuclear watchdog also said Iran's estimated stockpile of enriched uranium has reached 18 times the limit set in a 2015 deal between Tehran and world powers.

According to IAEA estimates, Iran's total enriched uranium stockpile as of 12 February was 3,760 kg (8,291 lb), an increase of 87.1 kg from the previous November report.

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