Iran increasing nuke stockpile

Iran has significantly increased its stockpile of enriched uranium in recent months, continuing its nuclear escalation, a confidential report by the UN nuclear watchdog on Wednesday seen by AFP said. The agency, however, noted progress in its cooperation with Iran in a separate report saying it has decided to close the file on nuclear material at an undeclared site, an issue which has long exacerbated relations between the two parties.The two confidential reports come days before the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is due to meet to review progress in addressing the watchdog's remaining concerns. The nuclear watchdog said in its quarterly report that Iran's estimated stockpile of enriched uranium had reached more than 23 times the limit set out in the landmark 2015 accord between Tehran and world powers. As of 13 May, Iran's total enriched uranium stockpile was estimated at 4,744.5 kilograms (10,459 pounds). The limit in the 2015 deal was 202.8 kilograms.The report also said that Iran is continuing its enrichment of uranium to levels higher than the 3.67 percent limit in the deal. Efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal -- which was left in tatters by the unilateral withdrawal of the United States in 2018 -- have stalled since last summer.