Vienna. Iran has ignored international demands to curb its nuclear program and has increased its uranium enrichment stockpile to weapons-grade levels, according to a confidential report by the UN nuclear watchdog. This report was received by the Associated Press (AP) on Tuesday. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that as of October 26, Iran had 182.3 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent, 17.6 kilograms more than the last report in August.
Uranium enriched at sixty percent purity is just a few steps away technologically from weapons-grade uranium at 90 percent purity. The IAEA also estimated in its quarterly report that Iran had a total stockpile of 6,604.4 kg of enriched uranium as of October 26, up from 852.6 kg in August.
According to IAEA estimates, the amount of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity is about 42 kilograms, at which if the material is further enriched to 90 percent, it is theoretically possible to make a nuclear weapon. The reports come at a critical time, with Israel and Iran launching missile attacks in Gaza in recent months following more than a year of war. Gaza is ruled by the Iran-backed group Hamas.
