IAEA Report: Iran Reduces 60% Enriched Uranium Stockpile 'For the First Time'

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported on Monday that the Islamic Republic has reduced its stockpile of uranium enriched to nearly weapons-grade levels over the past three and a half months. According to the Wall Street Journal, although Iran still has enough material to produce three nuclear bombs, it has diluted some of its 60% enriched uranium in recent weeks, marking the first decrease in its high-enriched uranium reserves since it began enriching at this level in 2021. In its confidential quarterly report to member states, the IAEA stated that Iran has reduced its 60% enriched uranium stockpile by 6.8 kilograms since late October last year, bringing it down to 121.5 kilograms. This latest report follows comments made by Rafael Grossi, the IAEA Director General, who stated last Monday that despite United Nations pressures, Iran continues to enrich uranium at levels far beyond its commercial needs. Grossi told Reuters that while the pace of Iran's uranium enrichment has slightly decreased compared to late last year, the country is still enriching about seven kilograms of 60% uranium each month. U.S. officials claim that Iran needs less than two weeks to increase its 60% enriched uranium to 90%, the level required for nuclear bomb production. Iran is the only non-nuclear-weapon state in the world producing uranium enriched to 60%. According to the IAEA's definition, Iran needs at least 42 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium to produce one nuclear bomb. However, the Islamic Republic continues to enrich uranium at lower levels. The IAEA report indicates that Iran has added 145.1 kilograms to its 20% enriched uranium stockpile. Experts suggest that it would only take a few weeks to enrich 20% uranium to the level needed for bomb production. Iran currently has 712 kilograms of uranium enriched to 20%. The Islamic Republic claims that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes. U.S. officials have stated that Iran could produce nuclear weapons within a few months. The Biden administration has repeatedly asserted that it will prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Seven industrialized nations have emphasized the need to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. The U.S. response to Iran's missile tests has had no impact on regional decisions. The IAEA Director General warned that Iran is not 'fully transparent' about its nuclear program. Efforts to normalize nuclear bomb production continue; Ali Akbar Salehi stated that they possess all the thresholds of nuclear science and technology. The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization criticized the IAEA for not cooperating with them. The Institute for Science and International Security stated that Iran could build a nuclear bomb in a week. A U.S. State Department spokesperson acknowledged awareness of the IAEA Director General's comments regarding the slowdown in uranium enrichment in Iran. The IAEA Director General noted that the pace of uranium enrichment in Iran has slightly slowed down.