Tehran: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said near bomb-grade level uranium particles were found in a nuclear facility in Iran. They were enriched to 83.7% purity. Nuclear bombs need 90% enrichment.
According to a report by CNN, the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP) is an underground facility located nearly 20 miles northeast of the city of Qom. Iran claimed that the unintended fluctuations during the enrichment process might be the reason for the presence of the particles.
The IAEA took the environmental samples on January 22 and informed Iran that these findings are "inconsistent with the level of enrichment at the Fordow plant as declared by Iran and requested Iran to clarify the origins of these particles." The report further said that these events clearly indicate the capability of the agency to detect and report in a timely manner changes in the operation of nuclear facilities in Iran.
The UN report said that Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% has gone up by 87.5 kg since the last report in November 2022. The US State Department spokesperson said it is a "very serious development."