Vienna: The UN nuclear watchdog said on Monday that it estimated Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium exceeded 18 times the limit set in Tehran’s 2015 agreement with world powers.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said in its latest report on Iran’s nuclear program that it “estimated that, as of May 15, 2022, Iran’s total enriched reserves stood at 3,809.3 kilograms.”
The 2015 deal set the limit at 300 kilograms (660 lb) of a specific compound, the equivalent of 202.8 kilograms of uranium.
The report also said that Iran continues to enrich uranium beyond the 3.67 percent limit in the deal.
The reserves of up to 20 per cent enriched uranium are now estimated at 238.4 kg, an increase of 56.3 kg from the previous report in March, while the enriched uranium up to 60 per cent is at 43.1 kg, an increase of 9.9 kg.
An enrichment level of about 90 percent is required for use in a nuclear weapon.
Iran has always insisted that its nuclear program is peaceful.
The latest report comes as talks between Iran and world powers to revive the historic 2015 nuclear deal remain deadlocked after being halted in March.
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