Iran still expanding its stockpile of enriched uranium, IAEA finds

The UN atomic watchdog agency said Iran is violating limitations set in the 2015 nuclear deal that Donald Trump pulled the US out of

But Iran is providing the International Atomic Energy Agency with access to sites where it is suspected of having stored undeclared nuclear material

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IAEA director general Rafael Mariano Grossi briefs the media on Iran, which he said has allowed outside inspectors to visit one of two suspect sites to verify possible past nuclear activities there. Photo: DPA

Published: 2:43pm, 5 Sep 2020Updated: 2:43pm, 5 Sep 2020

Iran continues to increase its stockpile of enriched uranium in violation of limitations set in a landmark deal with world powers, but has begun providing access to sites where it was suspected of having stored or used undeclared nuclear material and possibly conducted nuclear-related activities, the UN’s atomic watchdog agency said on Friday.

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported in a confidential document distributed to member countries that Iran as of August 25 had stockpiled 2,105.4kg (2.32 tons) of low-enriched uranium, up from 1,571.6kg (1.73 tons) last reported on May 20.

Iran signed the nuclear deal in 2015 with the United States, Germany, France, Britain, China and Russia. Known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, it allows Iran only to keep a stockpile of 202.8kg (447 pounds).

The IAEA reported that Iran has also been continuing to enrich uranium to a purity of up to 4.5 per cent, higher than the 3.67 per cent allowed under the JCPOA. It said Iran’s stockpile of heavy water – which helps cool nuclear reactors – had decreased, however, and is now back within the JCPOA limits.

The nuclear deal promised Iran economic incentives in return for the curbs on its nuclear programme. President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the deal unilaterally in 2018, saying it needed to be renegotiated.

Since then, Iran has slowly violated the restrictions to try and pressure the remaining nations to increase the incentives to offset new, economy-crippling US sanctions.

Those countries maintain that even though Iran has been violating many of the pact’s restrictions, it is important to keep the deal alive because the country has continued providing the IAEA with critical access to inspect its nuclear facilities.