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UN Agency: Iran Violating All Restrictions of Nuclear Deal
(AP-Washington Post) Kiyoko Metzler - In a confidential document distributed to member countries, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported Friday that Iran has continued to increase its stockpiles of enriched uranium and remains in violation of its deal with world powers. As of May 20, Iran's total stockpile of low-enriched uranium amounted to 1.73 tons, up from 1.1 tons on Feb. 19. According to the Arms Control Association in Washington, Iran would need 1.16 tons of low-enriched uranium (under 5% purity) to make a nuclear weapon. The 2015 nuclear deal allows Iran to keep a stockpile of only 447 pounds. The IAEA reported that Iran has also been continuing to enrich uranium to a purity of up to 4.5%, higher than the 3.67% allowed under the deal. Iran is also above the pact's limitations on heavy water. The IAEA raised concerns about access to two of three locations it identified in March as places where Iran possibly stored and/or used undeclared nuclear material or undertook nuclear-related activities without declaring them to international observers. It said Iran has, for more than four months, blocked access to the two locations. At one site, the agency observed activities "consistent with efforts to sanitize" the facility from July 2019 onward.