According to a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) obtained by the Associated Press, as of May 11, Iran possessed 313.2 pounds of uranium enriched up to 60%, marking an increase of 45.4 pounds since the U.N. watchdog’s previous report in February. Uranium enriched to 60% purity is a short technical step away from the 90% needed for weapons-grade material.
The IAEA report indicates that approximately 92.5 pounds of uranium enriched to 60% is sufficient to theoretically produce one atomic weapon if further enriched to 90%. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has previously stated that Iran has enough enriched uranium for “several” nuclear weapons.
As of May 11, Iran’s total enriched uranium stockpile reached 1,671.5 pounds, an increase of 1,489.8 pounds since the last IAEA report. Grossi mentioned in Helsinki that the IAEA has paused talks with Iran following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi but plans to resume discussions soon. “But once this is over, we are going to be engaging again,” Grossi said, describing the halt as a “temporary interruption that I hope will be over in a matter of days.”
Tensions between Iran and the IAEA have escalated since 2018, when then-President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Since the U.S. exit, Iran has abandoned the limitations imposed by the deal and accelerated its uranium enrichment efforts.
Iran insists that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes. The US intelligence community and the IAEA claim that they have no evidence that Tehran is building nuclear weapons.
