Iran has accumulated 43 kilograms of uranium enriched by 60%, thus adding almost 10 kilograms to the stockpile made earlier, Bloomberg reported yesterday, citing the IAEA quarterly report.

“In the absence of restrictions, Iran has accumulated 43 kilograms of uranium enriched at 60% – an increase of 30% over the past three months,” the report said.

As Western media noted, the country’s stockpile of enriched uranium is now more than 18 times the limit set in 2015. As of May 15, 2022, Iran had more than 3,800 kilograms of enriched uranium at its disposal. At the same time, Iran continues to enrich uranium to levels exceeding the 3.67% limit stipulated in the original deal. The country possesses uranium enriched by 60%, as well as uranium enriched by 20%: Iran has about 238 kilograms of it.

In another IAEA document, also seen by Bloomberg, IAEA experts report that the country’s authorities continue to block an investigation into the origin of traces of uranium found at a number of Iranian sites.

“Iran has not provided an explanation that would inspire confidence from a technical point of view. The Agency cannot confirm the correctness and completeness of Iran’s declarations under the comprehensive safeguards agreement,” said IAEA chief Rafael Grossi.

Bloomberg notes that evidence that Iran may be providing incomplete information is a serious problem. The IAEA’s 35-member board of governors will meet in Vienna on June 6, where diplomats may adopt a resolution formally condemning Iran.

In 2015, Iran and the P5+1 countries – the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany – concluded the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a nuclear agreement that requires Tehran to limit the development of its nuclear program to exclusively peaceful purposes. Specific parameters were agreed upon, including the level of uranium enrichment, allowing IAEA inspectors into Iranian nuclear facilities in exchange for a step-by-step lifting of sanctions. Former US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018 and renewed anti-Iran sanctions, prompting Tehran to phase out some of the deal’s terms.

Iran and several world powers subsequently held several rounds of talks in Vienna from April through December 2021 to restore the JCPOA. The U.S. is not directly involved in them.