Agency Warning: Iran's Uranium Reserves Near Bomb-Making Levels

On Wednesday, March 8, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran's uranium reserves, enriched to near weapons-grade purity, have increased 'significantly.' The report states that this increase occurs while there has been no progress in negotiations to resolve outstanding issues with the Islamic Republic since last December. The enriched uranium reserves, at 60% fissile purity, are close to the 90% threshold that can be used to build a nuclear bomb. Western powers have repeatedly expressed concern over the acceleration of Iran's nuclear activities, stating that the increase in uranium reserves at 60% purity has no justification for civilian use. According to Reuters, as the Trump administration states its intention to pressure Iran regarding its nuclear program, the IAEA emphasized that the opportunity for diplomacy to impose new restrictions on Iran's activities is running out. The IAEA included an unusually alarming statement in both of its quarterly reports on Iran, saying: 'The significant increase in the production and accumulation of highly enriched uranium by Iran, the only non-nuclear weapon state producing such nuclear materials, is a serious concern.' These confidential reports, sent to IAEA member states and confirmed by Reuters, indicate that while the reserves of 60% enriched uranium have doubled, there has been no real progress in resolving long-standing issues, including unexplained traces of uranium found at undeclared sites in Iran. One of the two confidential IAEA reports states that the reserves of 60% enriched uranium in the form of uranium hexafluoride have increased by 92.5 kg over the past three months to 274.8 kg. According to IAEA standards, this amount of uranium, if further enriched, is sufficient to build six nuclear bombs, and more military weapons can be produced with lower purity. A senior diplomat noted that while Iran previously produced between 6 to 9 kg of 60% enriched uranium per month before accelerating this process, it is now producing between 35 to 40 kg. For further enrichment, about 42 kg of uranium is needed to build one nuclear bomb. The Trump administration has emphasized that it will not allow the Islamic Republic to acquire nuclear weapons. Recently, Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, stated that Iran can never possess nuclear weapons to hold the world hostage and potentially attack Israel. In an interview published on the U.S. State Department's website on Thursday, March 2, Rubio stressed that Trump's policy is clear, adding that under Trump's presidency, Iran will not be a nuclear state. Israeli Foreign Minister: The military option against the Islamic Republic must remain on the table. Araghchi: Currently, there is no possibility for direct negotiations with the U.S. Rubio: The Iranian government cannot acquire nuclear weapons to hold the world hostage. The U.S. State Department: The Islamic Republic is not allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. Meeting of U.S. senators with Netanyahu; Graham: Either a 'Libya model' or military action against Iran's nuclear facilities. Meeting of Rubio and European officials; explicit condemnation of the Islamic Republic's actions. The White House: Trump is committed to preventing the Islamic Republic from acquiring nuclear weapons. Grossi: The Islamic Republic is seeking to 'sevenfold' increase its production of 60% enriched uranium.