AEA chief: Iran ‘pressing the gas’ on uranium enrichment

Iran is significantly ramping up its uranium enrichment efforts, approaching levels close to weapons-grade, said Rafael Grossi, chief of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Wednesday. Grossi, who was quoted by Reuters, highlighted that the acceleration, recently announced by Iran, is now becoming evident in its nuclear activities.

Since 2018, when Donald Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers during his first term as US President, Iran has taken many steps to scale back its compliance with the deal. In its latest step to advance its nuclear program, Iran recently informed the IAEA of its intention to "significantly increase" its production of uranium enriched up to 60 percent."

"Before it was (producing) more or less seven kilograms (of uranium enriched to up to 60%) per month, now it's above 30 or more than that. So I think this is a clear indication of an acceleration. They are pressing the gas pedal," Grossi told reporters on Wednesday during the World Economic Forum in Davos.  (Read More)