Iran stockpiling five times more enriched uranium than nuclear deal allows

Iran has stockpiled enriched uranium vastly over the limits of deal with world powers.
2 min read
03 March, 2020
Iran has stockpiled more than five times the enriched uranium as allowed [Getty]
Iran has stockpiled enriched uranium five times higher than a limit set by a deal with world powers, the UN's nuclear watchdog said on Tuesday.

As of 19 February, Iran's uranium stockpiles stood at 1,510kg, according to the UN's nuclear watchdog, while the limit set in a nuclear deal with world powers is 300kg.

This is considered by some nuclear experts to be a sufficient amount of material to work towards the production of a nuclear weapon but would still take several steps to make a bomb.

Iran has not been enriching uranium above 4.5 percent and would need a level of 90 percent for weapons use

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also said that Iran has blocked access to inspectors to two undeclared nuclear sites in the country. 

"Iran has not provided access to the agency to two locations... and not engaged in substantive discussions to clarify agency questions related to possible undeclared nuclear material and nuclear-related activities," the second IAEA report said.

In 2015, Iran signed a nuclear deal with world powers, allowing inspectors access to sites and limiting production levels, in return for easing sanctions on the country.

The US pulled out of the agreement in 2018 and since then European powers have been desperately finding ways to keep the deal alive.

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