For a nuclear bomb you need 90 percent enriched uranium. At a nuclear facility in Iran, investigators found particles that amounted to about 84 percent.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found very highly enriched uranium particles in Iran. The purity of uranium was 83.7 percent, as IAEA boss Rafael Grossi first officially confirmed this Tuesday. That’s just under the 90 percent required for nuclear weapons.
The traces were discovered during an inspection at a uranium enrichment facility in Fordow in January.
Iran: Enrichment “unwanted turnover”
Iranian officials told the IAEA that the extremely high enrichment level was an “undesirable fluctuation”. Talks are ongoing with Tehran to clarify this issue, according to a non-public report available to some news agencies.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi pointed out in January that Iran already has enough enriched uranium for several nuclear weapons if the material is further enriched.
According to the report, the Islamic Republic has, among other things, about 435 kilograms of 20 percent uranium, which is 48 kilograms more than in the quarterly report before November. The 60% uranium stock has increased by 25 kilograms and is now almost 88 kilograms. Tehran has always stressed that it is only interested in peaceful nuclear technology.
Nuclear deal revival talks suspended
In 2015, Iran made a commitment to curb its nuclear program. In response, Western sanctions were lifted. This pact was aimed at preventing the construction of nuclear weapons in the Islamic Republic.
After the United States withdrew from the agreement in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump, Tehran responded by expanding uranium enrichment and restricting IAEA controls.
Negotiations for the revival of the nuclear deal, involving Germany, have been on hold for months.
Source: ZDF
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