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Iran nuclear deal
image copyrightEPA
Iran now has more than 10 times the amount of enriched uranium permitted under an international agreement, the UN’s nuclear watchdog says.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile had reached 2,105kg (4,640lb).
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Iran insists its nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes.
It comes after Iran gave IAEA inspectors access to one of two suspected former nuclear sites.
The agency said it would take samples at the second site later this month.
Last year, Iran began deliberately and publicly reneging on commitments it had made under the international nuclear accord, signed in 2015 by Iran, China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK and the US.
This included the production of more enriched uranium than it was allowed – although only at enrichment levels far below that required for use in atomic weapons.
Iran’s move came in retaliation against US sanctions reinstated by President Donald Trump when he abandoned the deal.
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To manufacture a nuclear weapon, Iran would need to produce 1,050kg of 3.67% enriched uranium, but would then need to further enrich that to 90% or more, according to US-based advocacy group the Arms Control Association.
The deal set a limit of 300kg of enriched uranium in a particular compound form (UF6), which is the equivalent of 202.8kg of uranium.
Low-enriched uranium – which has a concentration of between 3% and 5% of U-235 – can be used to produce fuel for power plants. Weapons-grade uranium is 90% enriched or more.
Experts say the enrichment process could take a long time, if Tehran chose to do so.
Last week, Iran said it had agreed “in good faith” to let weapons inspectors access sites to resolve outstanding issues related to nuclear safeguards.
The IAEA had criticised Iran for not answering its questions about possible undeclared nuclear material and nuclear-related activities at the two locations, and denying it access.
In the latest statement, the global watchdog said Iran had “provided agency inspectors access to the location to take environmental samples”.
“The samples will be analysed by laboratories that are part of the agency’s network,” it added.