Iran is multiplying the pace at which it is enriching uranium to close to bomb grade, mainly at its Fordow site dug into a mountain, the UN nuclear watchdog said in a confidential report to member states on Friday seen by Reuters.
The International Atomic Energy Agency verified on Thursday that Iran had started feeding uranium hexafluoride gas enriched to up to 20 percent instead of the previous 5 percent into two interconnected cascades of IR-6 centrifuges at Fordow enriching to up to 60 percent, close to the roughly 90 percent of weapons grade, the report said.
That meant the pace at which Iran would enrich to 60 percent would increase dramatically, the report showed, naming a monthly production rate of over 34 kg at Fordow alone. A quarterly IAEA report last month showed Iran’s total production rate at that level at two sites including Fordow was roughly 6 kg a month.
