‘Iran increases uranium stockpile further’

The UN atomic watchdog said on Wednesday it believes Iran has further increased its stockpile of uranium that is highly enriched to one short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels.The International Atomic Energy Agency also voiced increasing concerns over Tehran’s lack of engagement with a probe that has become a sticking point in efforts to revive the Islamic Republic’s nuclear deal with world powers.In its confidential quarterly report, the IAEA told member nations that it believes Iran has an estimated 55.6 kilograms (122.6 pounds) of uranium enriched to up to 60 per cent fissile purity, an increase of 12.5 kilograms since May.That enrichment to 60 per cent purity is one short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent.Nonproliferation experts have warned that Iran now has enough 60 per cent-enriched uranium to reprocess into fuel for at least one nuclear bomb. The IAEA report, which was seen by The Associated Press, also estimated that as of August 21, Iran’s stockpile of all enriched uranium was at 3621.3 kilograms — an increase of 365.5 kilograms since the last quarterly report in May.The Vienna-based IAEA said it was unable to verify the exact size of Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium due to limitations that Tehran imposed on UN inspectors last year and the removal of the agency’s monitoring and surveillance equipment in June at sites in Iran.While Iran long has maintained its program is peaceful, officials now openly discuss Tehran’s ability to seek an atomic bomb if it wanted.