Iran has staged its production of highly enriched uranium to near Weapon quality, according to a confidential report from the UN nuclear watchdog.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) called on Saturday, local time, for Tehran to change course and to comply with the probe of the agency.
The last report of the IAEA, seen by the Associated Press and AFP, says from 17 May, Iran has enriched 408.6 kilograms of uranium to 60 percent.
That is an increase of 133.8 kilograms – or almost 50 percent – since the last report of the IAEA in February.
It is also close to the approximately 90 percent level that is needed for atomic weapons.
The total amount of Iran to enriched uranium now exceeds 45 times the limit that has been authorized by the 2015 agreement with world powers.
What does the report say?
The IAEA report warned strict Iran is now “the only non-Nuclear-Weapon state to produce such material” something that was, according to the agency of “serious concern”.
About 42 kilograms of 60 percent enriched uranium is theoretical enough to produce one atomic bomb, if further enriched to 90 percent, according to the watchdog.
The report also estimated that on 17 May the total stock of Iran of the enriched uranium – which includes uranium to lower levels – was 9,247.6 kilograms.
That is an increase of 953.2 kilograms since the report of February.
The IAEA report has increased a strict warning about the stock of uranium from Iran. ((Reuters: West Asia News Agency))
Iran has sustained that his nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes.
But the IAEA chef, Rafael Mariano Grossi, warned that Tehran has enriched enough uranium with near-Weapons-Grade levels to make “different” nuclear bombs if it chose.
Iranian officials have increasingly suggested that Tehran could pursue an atomic bomb.
American intelligence services that Iran still have to start a weapon program, but “has undertaken activities that position it better to produce a nuclear device if it chooses to do this”.
A separate in -depth report was also released on Saturday, the IAEA criticized the “less than satisfactory” collaboration of Tehran about the research by the agency on his nuclear program.
It specifically noted that the lack of progress of Iran is explained in the explanation of nuclear material at non -specified locations.
The office of Benjamin Netanyahu says that the purpose of Iran’s nuclear program is not peaceful. ((AP: Ronen Zvulun))
How did Israel respond?
The quarterly report comes at a sensitive time, because Tehran and Washington have held various conversations about a possible nuclear deal in recent weeks.
Western governments have long suspected that Iran is trying to develop a nuclear weapon capacity to prevent the generally suspected but unauthorized arsenal of his Arch-Foe, Israel.
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that Saturday’s report was a clear warning sign that “Iran is fully determined to complete his nuclear weapon program”.
“Such a level of enrichment only exists in countries that actively pursue nuclear weapons and has no civil justification,” said a statement from the office.
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What did Iran say?
The Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has again confirmed on Saturday that the long -term position of his country and said that Tehran regards as nuclear weapons as “unacceptable”, according to AFP.
“If the problem is nuclear weapons, yes, we also consider this kind of weapons unacceptable,” he said in a speech on television.
What is the following?
Saturday’s report may escalate tensions between Iran and the West, according to the Associated Press.
European countries were able to switch to activating Snap-Back Sanctions against Iran that were abolished under the original Nuclear deal 2015 before October when the deal is formally.
The IAEA says that Iran has not explained nuclear related activities at different locations. ((ABC News: Michael Franchi))
On Thursday, Senior Iranian officials rejected speculation about an imminent nuclear deal with the US.
They emphasized that every agreement must completely lift the sanctions and let the country’s nuclear program continue.
The comments came a day after President Donald Trump said he told Mr Netanyahu that he would give himself to Iran to give the US more time to have a new deal with Tehran insisted.
Mr. Trump said on Friday that he still thinks a deal can be completed in the “not too distant future”.
AP/AFP
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