Iran's covert nuclear risk higher after war as IAEA access constrained: Report
Iran is estimated to possess about 440.9 kilograms, approximately 972 pounds, of uranium enriched to 60% purity, just below the 90% level considered weapons-grade.
Concerns have grown that Iran may continue covert development of its nuclear program amid an ongoing war and following US and Israeli strikes on its nuclear facilities last year.
What happened: The risk of such activity has increased since the military attacks, Bloomberg reported, citing Western officials who referenced data from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that was circulated last month.
According to the report, the longer nuclear material remains outside IAEA safeguards, the greater the risk it could be used for weapons purposes.
Iran is estimated to possess about 440.9 kilograms, approximately 972 pounds, of uranium enriched to 60% purity, just below the 90% level considered weapons-grade. That quantity, if further enriched, would be sufficient for around 10 nuclear weapons, according to IAEA estimates. The IAEA's lack of access has made it difficult to determine the exact location of the stockpile, although IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has said much of it is believed to be stored in underground tunnel complexes at Iran’s Isfahan nuclear facility.
