Iran Slows Buildup of Near-Weapons-Grade Nuclear Fuel

livemint.com:

Iran significantly slowed the pace at which it is accumulating near-weapons-grade enriched uranium in recent months, the United Nations’ atomic agency reported on Monday, a move that could ease tensions with the U.S. and help open the way to broader negotiations over its nuclear program. According to a confidential International Atomic Energy Agency report, Iran added 7.5 kilograms—about 16.5 pounds—of 60% enriched uranium in the three months to August, far less than the 51.8 kilograms it added in the previous six months.

The more slowly Tehran accumulates highly enriched uranium, the less potential fissile material it has for nuclear weapons. The decision to curtail its accumulation of highly enriched uranium, which can be turned into weapons-grade fissile material in a matter of days, isn’t a significant change to Tehran’s nuclear program. It already has 121.6 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium, enough for at least two nuclear weapons.

Iran has also produced enough lower-grade fissile material to fuel several other weapons. However, slowing the buildup of 60% enriched uranium moves in the direction of a key request from Washington as part of indirect talks between Iran and the U.S. aimed at de-escalating tensions between the two countries earlier this year.

The Biden administration was pushing for Iran to stop adding to its 60% stockpile. The amount of 60% enriched uranium added to Tehran’s stockpile in the quarter to August was the second lowest since Iran started gearing up its highly enriched uranium production in the spring of 2021. Iran has hugely expanded its nuclear program over the past four years following the decision by the Trump administration to take the U.S.