Iran has significantly expanded its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, pushing global nuclear tensions to a new high, according to a confidential report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) obtained by the BBC. The report reveals that Iran now possesses over 400kg of uranium enriched to 60% purity—just short of weapons-grade and nearly 50% more than what it held three months ago.
The IAEA warned that Iran’s enrichment rate over the past quarter was equivalent to producing roughly one bomb’s worth of fissile material every month. While Iran maintains its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, the watchdog stated it could no longer verify this claim due to Tehran’s refusal to allow full access to its nuclear facilities and its failure to answer longstanding questions about undeclared sites.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi described the development as “of serious concern.” The findings are expected to escalate pressure from the US, UK, France, and Germany for the IAEA board to declare Iran in violation of its nuclear non-proliferation commitments.
Reacting to the report, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that Iran is “totally determined” to develop nuclear weapons, asserting that such high levels of enrichment have no civilian use. Iran’s chief negotiator, Abbas Araghchi, rejected the accusation, saying nuclear weapons are “unacceptable” to Tehran.
The report also highlights evidence of past covert nuclear work at three sites—Lavisan-Shian, Varamin, and Turquzabad—adding to the distrust surrounding Iran’s intentions. Meanwhile, despite ongoing US-Iran negotiations in Vienna aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal, there has been no indication that Iran is slowing its enrichment efforts.
Recent statements by top advisors to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have further alarmed Western diplomats. Both Ali Larijani and Kamal Kharazi hinted that Iran might reconsider its stance against nuclear weapons if international threats increase.
With the IAEA board set to meet in the coming days, diplomatic sources suggest a UN Security Council referral could follow, raising the stakes in an already volatile region.
