IAEA again highlights Iranian nuclear concerns

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) officially released its quarterly report on Iran's nuclear programme on 16 September, revealing a significant decrease in the overall size of its uranium stockpile since the last report in May.

It estimated that the total has dropped by 799.7 kg to 2,441.3 kg “due to the use of uranium enriched up to 2% U-235 to produce uranium enriched up to 5% U-235”. This total includes uranium hexafluoride gas (UF6), uranium oxides and their intermediate products, uranium in fuel assemblies and rods, and in liquid and solid scrap.

The 2,372.9 kg of UF6 includes 503.8 kg of uranium enriched up to 2% U-235, 1,774.8 kg enriched up to 5% U-235, 84.3 kg enriched up to 20% U-235, and 10 kg enriched up to 60% U-235. While there was an 864.1 kg decrease in the stockpile of uranium enriched up to 2% since the previous report, the report noted a 1.6 kg increase in uranium enriched up to 5%, a 21.5 kg increase in uranium enriched up to 20%, and a 7.6 kg increase in uranium enriched up to 60%.

As per Janes ' calculations, the negligible change in Iran's stockpile of 5% enriched uranium indicates that more than 200 kg has been used to produce 20% and 60% enriched uranium since May, while accumulating tails with average enrichment levels between 1% to 2%.