Iran has increased its production of enriched uranium, according to a confidential report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Production accelerated following President Donald Trump’s election victory.
According to the report, obtained by the Associated Press, Iran had more than 600 pounds of uranium enriched up to 60% as of February 8. The number is an increase of 203.9 pounds since the agency’s last report from November.
“The significantly increased production and accumulation of high enriched uranium by Iran, the only non-nuclear weapon State to produce such nuclear material, is of serious concern,” the report stated.
The IAEA noted that Iran’s total stockpile of enriched uranium is 18,286 pounds, an increase of 3725.8 pounds since the agency’s November report.
National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes said in a statement that “President Trump has put the Iran Regime on notice by reimposing Maximum Pressure and is committed to ensuring the regime never gets a nuclear weapon. He has also made clear he is open to talks with Iran to come to an agreement that fully addresses the outstanding issues between our two countries.”
Trump recently signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM) to restore “maximum pressure on the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, denying Iran all paths to a nuclear weapon, and countering Iran’s malign influence abroad.”
The NSPM directed the Treasury Secretary to “impose maximum economic pressure on the Government of Iran, including by sanctioning or imposing enforcement mechanisms on those acting in violation of existing sanctions.”
“President Trump will not tolerate Iran possessing a nuclear weapons capability, nor will he stand for their sustained sponsorship of terrorism, especially against U.S. interests,” the memo declared.
