The US has called on Iran to dilute all of its enriched uranium that could be used in the future to create nuclear weapons.
Reports suggest Tehran has enriched the fuel to 60% purity – shy of the 90% required for weapons-grade levels.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a confidential report to member states last week that Iran’s stock of uranium enriched to up to 60% had fallen slightly in the past quarter as it had diluted, or “downblended”, more of its most highly enriched material than it had produced.
However, Iran has enough material to create two nuclear weapons from a theoretical perspective, if it is properly enriched, the report said.
“Iran should downblend all, not just some, of its 60% stockpile, and stop all production of uranium enriched to 60% entirely,” a US statement on Iran at the IAEA board of governors’ meeting.
“We continue to have serious concerns related to the stockpile of highly enriched uranium that Iran continues to maintain,” the US statement said.
“No other country today is producing uranium enriched to 60% for the purpose Iran claims and Iran’s actions are counter to the behavior of all other non-nuclear weapons states party to the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty),” it added.
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