Report: Iran Increased Stockpile of Nuclear Fuel

Iran made notable increases to its stockpile of enriched uranium between August and October, according to a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (iaea) reviewed by the Associated Press on November 19.

• Reserves of 60 percent enriched uranium went from 363.1 pounds in August to 401.9 pounds in October.
• Iran’s overall stockpile of enriched uranium amounted to 14,560 pounds on October 26, compared to 1,879.6 pounds in August.
• This is 32 times over the threshold set in 2015.

Iran is the only nonnuclear state to enrich uranium to 60 percent, according to the iaea. To produce a nuclear weapon, uranium must be 90 percent enriched. The final phase of enrichment, from 60 to 90 percent, is far easier to accomplish than the earlier phases, so Iran could be very close to having viable material for a nuclear weapon.

Since iaea Director General Rafael Grossi visited Tehran last week, Iran has apparently halted its production of 60 percent enriched uranium. But this does not comfort nations who fear they could find themselves in the cross hairs of an Iranian nuclear weapon.

Europe worried: A draft European resolution censuring Iran, backed by the United States, was taken to the iaea on Wednesday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned the French foreign minister that the resolution could turn the “cooperative atmosphere” into a “confrontational one.” He told Grossi that Iran would make a “proportionate” response to the final resolution.

On Monday, other European nations sanctioned Iran’s exports of missiles and drones to Russia.

Big picture: Bible prophecy makes clear that Iran will continue its development of nuclear weapons and play a central role in igniting the next world war.

Learn more: Read our Trends article “Why the Trumpet Watches Iran’s Pursuit of Nuclear Weapons.”