Iran increased its stockpile of highly enriched uranium just before the recent 12-day conflict with Israel, according to a confidential International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report seen by AFP on Wednesday.
The UN watchdog’s quarterly assessment said Iran’s reserves of uranium enriched up to 60 percent — close to weapons-grade level — rose to 440.9 kilograms as of June 13, an increase of 32.3 kilograms since May 17.
Following military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities during the war, the IAEA withdrew its inspectors from the country for safety reasons.
In its latest report, the agency said Iran’s subsequent decision to suspend cooperation was “deeply regrettable” and urged Tehran to swiftly resume inspections.
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Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed support for Iran’s right to pursue civilian nuclear energy during talks with his counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian in Beijing on Tuesday.
“The use of force is not the right way to resolve differences. Communication and dialogue are the right path to achieving lasting peace,” Xi said, emphasizing that China “respects Iran’s rights to peaceful use of nuclear energy” while calling for a solution that considers all parties’ concerns.
The developments come as France, Britain, and Germany last week triggered a mechanism to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran, citing Tehran’s “significant non-performance” under the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA).
The three European powers notified the UN Security Council that Iran continues to breach commitments designed to limit its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.
