Iran already has reserves of enriched uranium to create 3 nuclear bombs: new IAEA report

Iran continues to produce enriched uranium / Getty Images / Collage 24 Channel

The IAEA says Iran has enough enriched uranium to build three nuclear bombs. The country itself rejects attempts to create such weapons, but tensions between the agency and Iran have only increased.

The relevant information is contained in the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency. However, they note that there are still some positive changes.

The situation is tense, but not critical

The International Atomic Energy Agency reports that Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% rose by 6.7 kilograms to 128.3 kilograms. The corresponding growth was recorded in just over two months – the last report was published on September 4. Formally, Iran has enough uranium to create three nuclear bombs.

This is more than three times the approximately 42 kg, which the IAEA has determined is theoretically enough to create a nuclear bomb with further enrichment, writes Reuters.

However, the pace of Iran's uranium enrichment has slowed to about 3 kilograms per month – previously the number reached 9 kilograms over the same period. This was probably the result of indirect negotiations with the United States. The number of operating cascades or clusters of uranium enrichment centrifuges also has not changed.

At the same time, relations between the IAEA and Iran still remain tense. The agency's report said that since September, Tehran has not reversed the “cancellation of the status” of IAEA specialists. There are still challenges that prevent verification activities from being carried out effectively in Iran, particularly at enrichment facilities.

Nuclear threats in the world

• In Russia, there were unsuccessful tests of the Yars and Bulava missiles, which are carriers of nuclear weapons. “Yars” has lost its course, as during previous command post exercises of Russia's strategic nuclear forces, and “Bulava” is just a “crude” missile.
• It is worth noting that in early November, Putin withdrew ratification of the nuclear test ban treaty. There they referred to the protection of citizens and again blamed everything on the United States.
• In Israel, Minister Amichai Eliyahu spoke about the use of nuclear weapons in the Gaza Strip. His statement was immediately criticized by Israeli officials, and the minister himself was removed. Netanyahu said the IDF complies with international law.