Iran defies pressure, increases stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium: UN

Iran has defied international demands to rein in its nuclear programme and has increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels, according to a confidential report by the United Nations' nuclear watchdog seen on Tuesday by AP.

The report by the International Atomic Energy Agency said that as of October 26, Iran has 182.3 kilogrammes of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent, an increase of 17.6 kilogrammes since the last report in August.

Uranium enriched at 60 per cent purity is just a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent.

The IAEA also estimated in its quarterly report that as of October 26, Iran's overall stockpile of enriched uranium stands at 6,604.4 kilogrammes, an increase of 852.6 kilogrammes since August. Under the IAEA's definition, around 42 kilogrammes of uranium enriched to 60 per cent purity is the amount at which creating one atomic weapon is theoretically possible -- if the material is enriched further, to 90 per cent.

The reports come at a critical time as Israel and Iran have traded missile attacks in recent months after more than a year of war in Gaza, which is governed by Hamas, a group supported by Iran.

Adding to the complexity, Donald Trump's reelection raises questions about whether and how the incoming administration and Iran may engage.

Trump's first term in office was marked by a particularly troubled period, when he pursued a policy of "maximum pressure" against Tehran. He unilaterally withdrew America from Iran's nuclear deal with world powers, leading to sanctions hobbling the economy and ordered the killing of the country's top general.

Western diplomats consider censuring Iran last week offered not to expand its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent, during a visit to Tehran by the IAEA chief, Rafael Mariano Grossi.

The IAEA said during the meetings that "the possibility of Iran not further expanding its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent U-235 was discussed, including technical verification measures necessary for the Agency to confirm this, if implemented".

The report said that one day after Grossi left Iran, on November 16, IAEA inspectors verified that "Iran had begun implementation of preparatory measures aimed at stopping the increase of its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent U-235" at its underground nuclear sites.

The reports come ahead of this week's regular IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna.

A western diplomat, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed to the AP that the UK, France and Germany, with the support from the US, are going ahead with a resolution at this week's IAEA Board of Governors meeting, censuring Iran for its lack of cooperation.

A senior diplomat, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said it is possible that the commitments made by Iran during the IAEA's chief visit may not stand in case a resolution is passed. In the past, Iran has responded to resolutions by the IAEA Board of Governors by further enhancing its nuclear programme.

Iran has maintained its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only, but Grossi has previously warned that Tehran has enough uranium enriched to near-weapons-grade levels to make "several" nuclear bombs if it chose to do so.

Iran's mission at the UN in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The IAEA also reported that Iran has failed to take concrete steps as of now to improve cooperation, despite pleas by Grossi.

However, Tuesday's confidential report also said that during Grossi's visit to Iran on November 14, "Iran agreed to respond to the Agency's concerns related to Iran's withdrawal of the designation of several experienced Agency inspectors by considering the acceptance of the designation of four additional experienced inspectors".

In September 2023, Iran barred some of the Vienna-based agency's most experienced inspectors.

The report also said there was no progress thus far in reinstalling more monitoring equipment, including cameras, removed in June 2022. Since then, the only recorded data comes from IAEA cameras installed at a centrifuge workshop in Isfahan in May 2023 -- although Iran has not provided the IAEA with access to this data and inspectors have not been able to service the cameras.

Last week, Eslami warned that Iran could retaliate if challenged at the upcoming IAEA board meeting. Grossi acknowledged some nations were considering taking action against Iran.

In an effort to ensure Iran could not develop atomic weapons, world powers struck a deal with Tehran in 2015 under which it agreed to limit enrichment of uranium to levels necessary for nuclear power in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. UN inspectors were tasked with monitoring the programme.

Under the original 2015 nuclear deal, Iran was allowed to enrich uranium only up to 3.67 per cent purity, can maintain a stockpile of uranium of 300 kilogrammes and is permitted to use only very basic IR-1 centrifuges, machines that spin uranium gas at high speed for enrichment purposes.

A year after the US withdrawal from the deal under Trump, Iran started to gradually abandon all limits the deal put on its programme and began enriching uranium to up to 60 per cent purity.