IAEA Director Reports Iran's Stockpile of Highly Enriched Uranium Near Weapons-Grade Levels

VIENNA — Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), reported that Iran possesses a large stockpile of highly enriched uranium approaching weapons-grade purity. This assessment comes amid ongoing international monitoring of Iran's nuclear activities under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The IAEA, as the UN's nuclear watchdog, conducts regular inspections and verifies compliance with safeguards agreements.

The stockpile consists primarily of uranium enriched to 60% purity, which is close to the 90% threshold typically considered weapons-grade. Grossi noted that the vast majority of this material is stored at the Isfahan nuclear facility, with additional quantities at the Natanz enrichment site.

These locations have been central to IAEA verification efforts since the early 2000s, when concerns over Iran's nuclear program intensified.

According to Grossi's statement, the amount of enriched uranium is sufficient to produce a few nuclear warheads, even if some of the material is partially moved or dispersed. This evaluation is based on IAEA's latest inventory assessments, which track the quantity and enrichment levels of Iran's uranium stockpiles.

The agency has repeatedly called for greater transparency from Iran to ensure the program's exclusively peaceful nature.

Iran's nuclear activities have been a focal point of global diplomacy since the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which aimed to limit enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief. The United States withdrew from the deal in 2018, leading Iran to exceed agreed-upon limits on enriched uranium.

Subsequent IAEA reports have documented Iran's non-compliance with certain safeguards, including undeclared nuclear material and restricted access to sites.