Iran has significantly accelerated its uranium enrichment to 60% purity, edging closer to the 90% threshold required for weapons-grade material, the United Nations nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi revealed on Friday. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed this alarming development in a confidential report to its member states, heightening tensions between Iran and Western nations.
Expanding Enrichment Capacity
Grossi, speaking at the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain, disclosed that Iran’s uranium production at 60% purity is set to expand by seven to eight times its current capacity. This escalation means Iran could produce more than 34 kilograms of enriched uranium per month at its Fordow facility alone, according to the IAEA report. The report also highlighted that Iran had altered its processes, now enriching uranium from 20% purity instead of 5%, significantly speeding up production.
Iran’s Fordow plant and another facility in Natanz are both involved in the enrichment process. Analysts say Tehran has accumulated enough 60%-enriched uranium to potentially produce four nuclear weapons if the material is further refined. However, Iran has consistently denied pursuing nuclear weapons, maintaining that its program is for peaceful purposes.
International Alarm and Diplomatic Fallout
Western nations, including Germany, Britain, France (the E3), and the United States, have expressed strong condemnation of Iran’s actions. A German foreign ministry source called the move a “serious escalatory step” that undermines diplomatic efforts. Kelsey Davenport, a non-proliferation expert, described Iran’s actions as “dangerous and reckless,” warning they could increase the likelihood of miscalculation or military intervention.
Tensions were already high after a recent resolution by the IAEA’s Board of Governors criticized Iran for insufficient cooperation. Tehran responded by accelerating its nuclear activities, claiming the resolution violated an earlier understanding to ease diplomatic tensions.
A Broken Nuclear Agreement
Iran’s nuclear advancements have thrown the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, further into jeopardy. The agreement originally lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for strict limitations on its nuclear activities. However, since former U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from the deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions, Iran has gradually abandoned its commitments under the agreement.
Efforts to revive the deal have stalled, with Grossi lamenting the lack of an active diplomatic process. “We do not have any diplomatic process ongoing which could lead to de-escalation or a more stable equation when it comes to Iran,” he stated.
Potential Consequences
The IAEA report called for Iran to allow stricter safeguards and inspections to ensure its facilities are not being misused for unauthorized purposes. However, Tehran has shown resistance to international oversight, and the prospects for diplomacy appear bleak, especially with the JCPOA set to expire in October 2025.
Meanwhile, Grossi confirmed that Iran’s earlier agreement to cap its stockpile of 60%-enriched uranium was contingent on avoiding further criticism from the IAEA’s Board of Governors—a condition that has since been violated.
As Iran escalates its enrichment activities, the risk of a broader regional conflict looms. Analysts fear the move could provoke harsher sanctions or even military action, further destabilizing an already volatile situation in the Middle East.
