UN Report: Iran’s Uranium Stockpile Shrunk

February 20, 2014

            Iran’s stockpile of higher-enriched uranium has shrunk significantly for the first time in four years, according to a new report by the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced that Tehran has been meeting its commitments to the November 2013 interim nuclear deal. Iran's reserve of uranium refined to 20 percent fell to 161 kg in February from about 196 kg in November. That uranium could potentially be enriched to 90 percent purity, or weapons-grade level.

             The IAEA released its findings on February 20, just hours after Iran and the world’s six major powers — Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States — announced they agreed on a new nuclear deal framework. IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had also met on February 18 on the margins of the nuclear talks. The following are excerpts from the report.

Main Developments
•Iran has implemented the six initial practical measures that it agreed with the Agency in
November 2013 in relation to the Framework for Cooperation and both parties have agreed on the next seven practical measures to be implemented by Iran by 15 May 2014, including one measure related to the information contained in the Annex to the Director General’s November 2011 report.
 
•On 24 November 2013, the E3+3 and Iran agreed on a Joint Plan of Action (JPA). The JPA took effect on 20 January 2014, and the Board of Governors endorsed the Agency undertaking monitoring and verification in relation to the nuclear-related measures set out therein (see Annex III).
 
•Enrichment of UF6 above 5% U-235 is no longer taking place at FEP and FFEP. The amount of  nuclear material that remains in the form of UF6 enriched up to 20% U-235 is 160.6 kg. A proportion of this material is being downblended and the remainder is being converted to uranium oxide.
 
•Enrichment of UF6 up to 5% U-235 continues at a rate of production similar to that indicated in the Director General’s previous report. No additional IR-2m or IR-1 centrifuges have been installed at FEP, FFEP or PFEP (production area). The amount of nuclear material that remains in the form of UF6enriched up to 5% U-235 is 7609 kg.
 
•An updated Design Information Questionnaire (DIQ) for the IR-40 Reactor has been provided to the Agency. No additional major components have been installed at this reactor and there has been no manufacture and testing of fuel for the reactor.
 
•Managed access has been provided to the Agency to centrifuge assembly workshops, centrifuge rotor production workshops and storage facilities.
 
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