Iran's Nuclear Facility Contains Nearly Weapon-Grade Enriched Uranium, IAEA Reports

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has discovered nearly weapon-grade enriched uranium at Iran's nuclear facility. This was reported by the Russian service of the BBC.

Iran claims that there can be "unintentional deviations" in enrichment levels, although for the past two years, it has openly enriched uranium to 60%, in violation of the 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers.

As part of this agreement, which aimed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, Iran was obliged to limit its nuclear program and allow IAEA inspectors to visit nuclear facilities in exchange for a relief of international sanctions that have devastated its economy.

Under the terms of the nuclear deal, Iran is required not to enrich uranium beyond 3.67% and to cease enrichment activities at the Fordow facility entirely. However, after the United States imposed economic sanctions again, Iran initially resumed enrichment up to 20% and then began producing small batches enriched up to 60%, significantly higher than previously.

IAEA's latest quarterly report, which has been accessed by the BBC, indicates that samples taken from the Fordow facility at the end of January this year revealed particles of enriched uranium up to 83.7%.