Iran’s enriched uranium reserves are 18 times the limit allowed by a 2015 pact

The enriched uranium reserves accumulated by Iran they exceed more than 18 times the limit authorized by the 2015 international agreement, according to a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) consulted on Monday by AFP.

According to mid-May estimates, Tehran has thus increased its total reserves to 3,809.3 kg, compared to 3,197.1 kg in February, far from the limit of 202.8 kg (or 300 kg of a specific compound) at that he was engaged.

LOOK: The assassination of a senior Iranian military officer: Will the situation between Israel and Iran worsen?

On the other hand, reserves of 20% enriched material reached 238.4 kg, compared to 182.1 kg previously.

This level, which exceeds the 3.67% fixed by the agreement, theoretically allows the production of medical isotopes, used in particular in the diagnosis of certain cancers.

LOOK: The tragic story of Ella, the trans woman who set herself on fire in public in the center of Berlin

The Islamic Republic also has 43.1 kg of 60% enriched uranium, close to the 90% threshold needed to make a bomb, compared to the previous 33.2 kg.

with this amount “the possibility of manufacturing an explosive device cannot be excluded”, according to IAEA criteriacommented a diplomatic source. Although, in reality, “it would take more than 55 kg” of enriched uranium, she said, since material is lost in the enrichment process.

Iran has always insisted that its nuclear program is peaceful.

In another document, the IAEA denounced the lack of “satisfactory answers” from Iran about the remains of enriched uranium found in three undeclared sites: Marivan (west), Varamin and Turquzabad (in Tehran province).

Iran argued that “sabotage by a third party” would have “contaminated” these sites, although “it did not provide evidence to support these claims,” ​​explained the IAEA, which “is ready to work without delay with Tehran to resolve these issues.”

The two reports will be discussed at the IAEA Board of Governors next week.

Iran has been negotiating for a year in Vienna with China, Russia, France, the United Kingdom and Germany to revive the 2015 international agreement, whose objective was that the Islamic Republic not acquire the atomic bomb in exchange for the suspension of sanctions against your economy.

But since 2018, after Washington unilaterally withdrew from the agreement during the Donald Trump administration, Tehran began to back away from its commitments.

The negotiations have been stopped since March 11.

Source: Elcomercio

Deshawn