Iran amassed even more near weapons-grade uranium: IAEA

Iran has further increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels, a confidential report by the UN nuclear watchdog said on Saturday and called on Tehran to urgently change course and comply with the agency's probe.

- Associated Press

VIENNA:

The report comes at a sensitive time as Tehran and Washington have been holding several rounds of talks in the past weeks over a possible nuclear deal that US President Donald Trump is trying to reach.

The report by the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency — which was seen by The Associated Press — says that as of May 17, Iran has amassed 408.6 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60%.

That's an increase of 133.8 kilograms — or almost 50% — since the IAEA's last report in February.

That material is a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. A report in February put the stockpile at 274.8 kilograms. There was no immediate comment from Tehran on the new IAEA report.