Iran Increase Uranium Enrichment but Insists It Does Not Seek Nuclear Weapons
Iran has once again increased its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, pushing it closer to weapons-grade levels, according to a recent report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Despite this alarming development, Tehran insists it has no intention of building nuclear weapons and maintains that such weapons are "unacceptable."
The confidential IAEA report, released to member states, confirms that Iran now holds approximately 408.6 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60%. This level is just short of the 90% enrichment typically required to produce a nuclear bomb. Since February, the amount of this highly enriched uranium has grown by more than 133 kilograms. In total, Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile now exceeds 9,200 kilograms—about 45 times the limit allowed under the 2015 nuclear agreement signed with world powers.
The IAEA voiced serious concerns about this buildup, noting that Iran remains the only country without nuclear weapons to produce such material. Furthermore, the agency criticized Iran’s lack of cooperation in addressing questions about nuclear material found at undeclared sites, calling its response "less than satisfactory."
The report comes amid sensitive negotiations between Iran and the United States aimed at reviving a nuclear agreement to replace the one abandoned by former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2018. While both sides have engaged in several rounds of indirect talks, no concrete breakthrough has yet been reached. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized in a televised speech that Iran still considers nuclear weapons unacceptable, aligning—at least rhetorically—with the global consensus on non-proliferation.
Araghchi also dismissed speculation about an imminent agreement, saying that while there had been progress, significant issues remained unresolved. However, he added that Oman, which is playing a mediating role, might announce the next steps in the negotiations soon.
Meanwhile, tensions with Israel are flaring again. Israeli officials accuse Iran of being fully committed to developing a nuclear weapon, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office warning that enrichment at this level “has no civilian justification.” Israel has not ruled out military options and has threatened strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in the past. However, U.S. President Trump, while keeping the option of force on the table, has advised against any immediate Israeli action, preferring to give diplomacy another chance.
Trump confirmed that talks with Iran are ongoing and “very good,” but reiterated that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon. His administration’s past approach relied heavily on “maximum pressure,” including reimposing harsh sanctions on Tehran after leaving the 2015 deal. Though Iran initially stayed within the agreement’s limits, it gradually rolled back its commitments in response to the renewed sanctions.
Today, Iran has amassed the world’s largest stockpile of highly enriched uranium among non-nuclear weapon states. The 2015 deal had capped enrichment at just 3.67%, a threshold that Iran has long since exceeded.
Despite the increase in enrichment, Iranian officials have suggested they might be open to allowing U.S. inspectors to monitor their nuclear facilities through the IAEA—if a new agreement meets their conditions. Iran’s nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, recently indicated that American inspectors could be accepted under the IAEA framework if Iran’s demands are met in any future deal.
As the world watches closely, the dual signals from Iran—escalating uranium production on one hand, and diplomatic overtures on the other—create a tense and uncertain atmosphere. Whether these parallel tracks will converge into a peaceful agreement or spiral into confrontation remains to be seen.
