IAEA Report: Iran Has Increased Stockpile of Enriched Uranium

In their new quarterly report, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that Iran’s stockpile of civilian enriched uranium continued to grow beyond the 202 kg limit that was originally meant to be in place for the P5+1 nuclear deal.

That the stockpile further grew is unsurprising, as Iran has expanded their enrichment capacity, and has not shipped any uranium abroad for fuel conversion in the last couple of months, meaning it was only going to go up.

Iran has argued that the cap on the P5+1 deal no longer applied after the US withdrew, and has suggested they could quickly reverse their excess once they get a new deal with the other parties on shoring up the sanctions relief the US has failed to deliver.

The IAEA report put Iran’s stockpile at 241.6 kg of low-enriched uranium, far below any stockpile that would be a proliferation risk, and all enriched to 3.6% or 4.5%, both well below the 90% needed for even potential weaponization.

Iran’s decision to exceed the cap was very publicly made, with officials arguing it was meant to push the EU in particular to ensure trade, with Iran in particular wanting to be allowed to keep selling oil.