Dhe International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has found particles of very highly enriched uranium in Iran. As IAEA Secretary General Rafael Grossi officially confirmed for the first time on Tuesday, the uranium had a purity of 83.7 percent. That’s just under the 90 percent needed for nuclear weapons. The traces were discovered in January during an inspection of a uranium enrichment facility in Fordow. The media reported last week on the findings of the IAEA inspectors.
Iranian authorities told the IAEA that the extremely high level of enrichment was an “unintended fluctuation.” Talks with Tehran to clarify this issue are underway, according to the non-public report available to the German Press Agency. Grossi had already pointed out in January that Iran already has enough enriched uranium for several nuclear weapons if the material were to be further enriched.
In 2015, Iran committed to restricting its nuclear program. In return, Western sanctions were lifted. This pact was intended to prevent 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 inspections. Negotiations to revive the nuclear agreement, in which Germany is also involved, have been on hold for months.