Iran sharply expands stockpile of nuclear fuel ahead of Trump’s return
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. VIENNA—Iran sharply increased its stockpile of nearly weapons-grade uranium amid its confrontation with Israel, according to the United Nations atomic-energy agency, in a challenge to the incoming Trump administration. Iran’s decision to expand its stockpiles of nuclear fuel and its failure to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the IAEA, which monitors Tehran’s work, is set to trigger fresh diplomatic pressure from Europe.
Concerns are growing in Western capitals that Iran could decide to develop a nuclear weapon, after comments by senior Iranian officials that Tehran has mastered most of the techniques for doing so. Israel’s hollowing-out of Hezbollah, Iran’s most powerful proxy in the Middle East, has also prompted a public debate in Iran about whether the country’s best form of deterrence lies in having an atomic bomb. Iran has always claimed its nuclear work is purely for peaceful civilian purposes.
Both the incoming Trump administration and Tehran have sent mixed messages about whether they will seek confrontation or some kind of diplomatic engagement after President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20. Ahead of the elections, Trump said he wasn’t seeking a war or regime change.
Since then, The Wall Street Journal reported, Iran last month told the Biden administration in writing that it wasn’t seeking to assassinate Trump. Last week, Trump confidant Elon Musk met with Iran’s U.N. ambassador, according to people familiar with the details.
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