VIENNA: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed on Monday that Iran’s stock of uranium enriched to 60 percent has shrunk.
The nuclear watch dog in a report, said that Iranian uranium stock is below the theoretical threshold at which it could produce three atom bombs. The IAEA, however, said that problems with inspectors persist.
The report did not provide any reason for the down-blending of 31.8 kg of material enriched to up to 60%, after which the stock dropped to 6.8 kg.
A senior diplomat told western media said that at the start of the year Iran decided to do a down-blending saying that it was not clear why Iran took the step.
He was of the view that maybe Tehran doesn’t want to enhance tensions with the West.
According to the IAEA, at the end of last year Iran had enough uranium enriched to up to 60% purity and could be further enriched to 90% to produce three atomic bombs.
It said that Iran also has stock of uranium enriched to lower levels which could be further enriched to produce enough fuel for more nuclear bombs.
Iran has always rejected such intention; however, the western powers find no civilian justification for such high enrichment.
Iran slowed its enrichment of uranium to up to 60% last year which diplomats say was probably the result of secret talks between Washington and Tehran.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi western media that last week the enrichment rate had slowed slightly since the end of last year to around 7 kg a month.
The report said Iran has failed to cooperate on various pressing matters, such as the deployment of the IAEA inspectors in Iran.
