Laurence Norman
WSJ, Feb. 19, 2023
“The news comes after the IAEA reported in early February that Iran had conducted nuclear work that wasn’t reported to it at the country’s heavily fortified Fordow underground enrichment facility.”
United Nations atomic agency inspectors have detected uranium that has been enriched to near weapons-grade in Iran in recent weeks, three senior diplomats said Sunday, a finding that will deepen concerns about Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
Iran has been producing highly enriched, weapons-grade material of 60% purity since early 2021, but the material found was of 84% purity, according to the diplomats. Weapons-grade enriched uranium is generally considered to be from around 90%-enriched uranium. The diplomats said they had been informed that Iran doesn’t appear to be accumulating a stockpile of the 84% material. Bloomberg News earlier reported the International Atomic Energy Agency findings.
The IAEA said late Sunday it was aware of media reports about the findings and “is discussing with Iran the results of recent agency” work to verify Iran’s nuclear activities. It hasn’t yet issued a report on the findings to member states, something it usually does when Iran makes advances in its nuclear activities. The agency said in its statement that it will inform member states as appropriate.
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