Iran ramps up uranium enrichment, heightens global tensions
Iran has accelerated its production of uranium enriched to 60 percent, bringing it closer to the level needed for the production of nuclear weapons, reported the Associated Press, citing two confidential reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The significant acceleration in production and accumulation of highly enriched uranium by Iran, the only non-nuclear-armed state that produces nuclear material, is a cause for great concern, noted one of the IAEA reports.
IAEA: Iran has significantly increased its stockpile of enriched uranium
Bloomberg, which also cites the international agency's report, notes that in just the last three months, Iran has accumulated 295 pounds of highly enriched uranium and currently possesses 900 pounds of this substance. This volume of material, after further enrichment, can be used to create cores for approximately ten atomic bombs.
The IAEA data pertains to the state as of May 17. The agency emphasizes that about 93 pounds of uranium enriched to 60 percent is enough to produce one atomic bomb if enriched to 90 percent.
The key concerns stem from the "unsatisfactory" cooperation with Iran, which has evaded providing answers and has not supplied credible technical information on the matter. Tehran responded to the call by assuring it will not halt its nuclear program.
The reports emerged amid a deadlock in the Iranian-American negotiations on Iran's nuclear program, which began on April 12. To date, five rounds of talks have been held, and both sides have hardened their positions. Iran does not agree to a total ban on uranium enrichment while insisting that its nuclear policy is peaceful. The Americans, on the other hand, accuse Tehran of working on nuclear weapons.
