VIENNA: Iran has resumed enriching uranium at a similar rate as at the start of the year, the IAEA said on Tuesday, as the country accelerates its nuclear programme while denying it is developing a bomb.

Iran has “increased its production of highly enriched uranium, reversing a previous output reduction from mid-2023”, the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a statement.

Iran has increased its production of 60 per cent enriched uranium to a rate of about 9 kilogrammes a month since the end of November. That’s up from about three kilogrammes a month since June, and a return to the nine kilogrammes a month it was producing during the first half of 2023, the IAEA said.

“On 19 and 24 December, IAEA inspectors verified the rate of production of uranium enriched to this level at the two facilities where Iran is carrying out these activities — the Natanz Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant and the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant,” it said. Nuclear weapons require uranium enriched to 90pc, while 3.67pc is enough for nuclear power stations.

Iran appeared to have slowed its enrichment as a gesture while informal talks for a nuclear treaty had resumed with the United States. But animosity between the two countries has intensified in recent months, with each one accusing the other of exacerbating the war between Israel and Hamas.

In November, a confidential IAEA report indicated that Iran’s enriched uranium stocks were 22 times the limits authorised in the 2015 accord limiting Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for lifting sanctions.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2023