Iran Increases Uranium Stockpile to Near Weapons-Grade Levels Before Israeli Air Strikes
In a shocking revelation, a confidential report by the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has revealed that Iran significantly boosted its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels just before Israel launched air strikes on the country on 13 June.
The report, circulated to member states by the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), disclosed that as of 13 June, Iran possessed 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60%, marking an alarming increase of 32.3 kilograms since the IAEA’s previous report in May.
According to the report, this concerning figure was determined “based on the information provided by Iran, agency verification activities between 17 May 2025 and 12 June 2025, and estimates based on the past operation of the relevant facilities.”
This stockpile is just a technical step away from reaching weapons-grade levels of 90%, heightening global security concerns.
The confidential report also highlighted that Iran and the IAEA have yet to reach an agreement on resuming inspections of sites impacted by the Israeli and US airstrikes in June.
Since the conflict, the only site that has been inspected is the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, which operates with Russian technical assistance.
Rafael Grossi, the director general of the UN nuclear watchdog, emphasized in the report the urgent need to finalize “technical modalities to enable the full resumption of Agency inspection without delay.”
While acknowledging the necessity for UN inspectors to withdraw from Iran during the fighting due to security concerns, the report expressed disappointment over Tehran’s decision to halt cooperation with the IAEA.
Since 13 June, the IAEA has been unable to conduct crucial in-field activities required to verify Iran’s declarations and estimate changes in the reported uranium stockpile.
The IAEA pointed out that approximately 42 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium could potentially be used to produce one atomic bomb if further enriched to 90%.
Furthermore, inspectors have been unable to verify Iran’s near bomb-grade stockpile for over two and a half months, raising serious concerns among the international community.
Despite Iran’s claims of a peaceful nuclear program, it remains the only non-nuclear-armed nation enriching uranium to such high levels.
Previous assessments by the US, the IAEA, and other entities suggest that Iran had a nuclear weapons program until 2003, further adding to the complexity of the situation. — Euronews
