The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) submitted two new quarterly reports on the Iranian regime’s nuclear program to member states. The reports show that Tehran’s uranium stockpile enriched up to 60%—close to the level needed for building a nuclear weapon—had increased shortly before Israel’s strikes.
According to the first report, published by Reuters on Wednesday, September 3, since June 13—the day Israel began its strikes on nuclear facilities—the IAEA has been unable to carry out necessary on-site verification of enriched uranium stockpiles.
The report estimated Iran’s uranium stockpile at 9,874.9 kilograms as of June 13, an increase of 627.3 kilograms compared to the previous quarterly report.
According to the report, the stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% in the form of uranium hexafluoride (UF6) stood at about 440.9 kilograms—32.3 kilograms more than the previous period.
It is worth noting that the world was unaware of Iran’s nuclear program until the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), the main Iranian opposition group, exposed it.
According to the IAEA, about 42 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%—if further enriched—would be enough to produce one nuclear bomb.
On May 31, two weeks before the start of the 12-day conflict, the IAEA stated in a confidential report that Iran had previously carried out secret nuclear activities at three sites long under investigation.
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According to that report, the three sites—Lavizan-Shian, Varamin, and Marivan—and possibly others were part of an undeclared structured nuclear program that Iran carried out until the early 2000s, using undeclared nuclear material in some activities.
Enough Stockpile for 10 Nuclear Bombs
According to the new IAEA report, Iran’s current stockpile enriched to 60% theoretically equals the capacity to produce about 10 nuclear bombs.
In contrast, the stockpile of uranium enriched up to 20% was estimated at 184.1 kilograms, down 90.4 kilograms from the previous period. According to the IAEA, 125 kilograms of uranium enriched to 20% could, if further enriched, be sufficient to build one nuclear bomb.
IAEA Second Report: Dispute Over Inspectors
The IAEA’s second report refers to a dispute last May when two inspectors, after a mission in Fordow, took several pages containing notes about the facility to Vienna instead of leaving them at the IAEA office in Fordow.
The Iranian regime responded by revoking the accreditation of the two experienced inspectors—an action the IAEA deemed “unjustified,” stating that the incident did not involve any breach of confidentiality.
The second report emphasized that while the notes contained descriptions of the facility’s interior, they had no content that could endanger its security.
The report also warned that until Tehran fully resumes implementing safeguard measures, the IAEA cannot provide any conclusions or assurances regarding the Iranian regime’s nuclear program.
The report described Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium as a “very concerning issue” that must be addressed.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi warned on Wednesday that the agency’s negotiations with the Iranian regime over resuming inspections at nuclear facilities targeted by U.S. and Israeli strikes should not take months.
He called for reaching an agreement as quickly as possible, even within this week.
Grossi said in an interview with Reuters: “We are trying to have another meeting, perhaps within a few days now, here in Vienna, to conclude this and to start the inspections.”
