Iranian protesters hold placards in front of the Omani embassy, which is hosting the fifth round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, in Rome on May 23, 2025. (Credit: Andreas Solaro/AFP)
Iran has further expanded its production of highly enriched uranium, according to a confidential report by the U.N. nuclear watchdog, even as Tehran’s top diplomat reiterated that the country considers nuclear weapons “unacceptable.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in its latest quarterly report, obtained by AFP, that Iran has significantly increased its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60 percent, a level close to the 90 percent purity needed for nuclear weapons.
As of May 17, Iran possessed an estimated 408.6 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent, an increase of 133.8 kilograms since the agency’s last report in February. Overall, Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium now stands at approximately 9,247.6 kilograms — more than 45 times the limit set under the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
“The significantly increased production and accumulation of highly enriched uranium by Iran, the only non-nuclear weapon State to produce such nuclear material, is of serious concern,” the IAEA said.
A separate IAEA report criticized Tehran for what it described as “less than satisfactory” cooperation with the agency’s efforts to monitor its nuclear program, highlighting Iran’s failure to provide credible explanations for nuclear material detected at undeclared sites.
The findings come amid ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States aimed at reviving the 2015 agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which former President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from in 2018.
Following the report’s release, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office accused Iran of being “totally determined” to obtain nuclear weapons. “Such a level of enrichment exists only in countries actively pursuing nuclear weapons and has no civilian justification whatsoever,” the statement said.
Iran’s lead nuclear negotiator and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi pushed back on the allegations, saying Saturday that Tehran opposes nuclear arms.
“If the issue is nuclear weapons, yes, we too consider this type of weapon unacceptable,” Araghchi said in a televised address.
His comments followed remarks from Trump, who said Friday that “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” but also expressed optimism about the prospects for reaching a deal. “We’re having some very good talks with Iran,” he said Wednesday, noting he had warned Netanyahu against launching a military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities for now.
While Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, Western governments have long suspected Tehran of seeking to develop a nuclear weapons capability, particularly to counter Israel, which is widely believed to possess its own undeclared nuclear arsenal.
Araghchi on Thursday downplayed reports that a new agreement was near, calling it “media speculation.” He said he was “not sure if” a deal is “imminent.”
Iran and the U.S. have held five rounds of indirect talks, with Oman acting as mediator. A date for the next round has yet to be announced, but Araghchi said this week that Oman may provide details “in the next few days.”
At issue is Iran’s uranium enrichment program, which Washington insists must be curtailed. Tehran argues it has the right to enrich uranium under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
Trump, who reimposed sweeping sanctions after exiting the JCPOA, has not ruled out military action but emphasized that he prefers diplomacy. He has also said that if military action is necessary, it would be led by Israel.
In the wake of the 2018 U.S. withdrawal, Iran initially continued to comply with the deal before beginning to scale back its commitments. It now has the largest stockpile of highly enriched uranium of any non-nuclear weapons state.
Iran has suggested that, under a new agreement, it could allow U.S. inspectors to join U.N. monitoring teams. Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, said Tehran would “reconsider accepting American inspectors through the Agency” if its conditions are met.
Iran has further expanded its production of highly enriched uranium, according to a confidential report by the U.N. nuclear watchdog, even as Tehran’s top diplomat reiterated that the country considers nuclear weapons “unacceptable.”The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in its latest quarterly report, obtained by AFP, that Iran has significantly increased its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60 percent, a level close to the 90 percent purity needed for nuclear weapons.As of May 17, Iran possessed an estimated 408.6 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent, an increase of 133.8 kilograms since the agency’s last report in February. Overall, Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium now stands at approximately 9,247.6 kilograms — more than 45 times the limit set under the 2015 nuclear deal with world...
