Iran Expands Uranium Reserves Prior to Israeli Strike, According to IAEA Report

In a sensitive geopolitical landscape, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been grappling with difficulties in conducting necessary inspections to verify Iran's nuclear declarations since June 13. This development comes at a critical juncture, as France, Germany, and the United Kingdom initiated the process of reimposing sanctions on Iran, known as a "snapback" by diplomats, on August 28.

Prior to Israel's military attack on June 13, Iran had increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. As of June 13, the total enriched uranium stockpile stood at 9,874.9 kg, marking an increase of 627.3 kg since the IAEA's last report in May. Notably, Iran also had 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60 percent, an increase of 32.3 kg since May.

The IAEA's report has raised serious concerns, as the agency has not been able to verify Iran's near bomb-grade stockpile for over two and a half months. The only site inspected since the war has been the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant.

On August 11, a technical team from the IAEA held discussions in Tehran with Iranian officials, and the Iranian government spoke with the IAEA in Cairo in August 2025 to agree on practical modalities for the resumption of inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities. However, as of now, Iran and the IAEA have not reached an agreement on resuming inspections of sites affected by Israeli and US bombing in June.

In a letter sent on August 14, Iran provided a detailed draft of a "new arrangement" for inspections, under which the IAEA would have to submit requests for inspections of undamaged facilities "on a case by case basis." The IAEA director general, Rafael Grossi, emphasised the need for technical modalities to enable the full resumption of Agency inspection to be concluded without delay.

The IAEA chief made clear to Iran that any cooperation arrangement must be in accordance with Tehran's nuclear safeguards agreement that it has with the UN nuclear watchdog. The director general's call for prompt action comes amidst the looming threat of sanctions, as the move set a 30-day clock ticking for sanctions to return unless the West and Iran reach a diplomatic agreement.

European nations have expressed a willingness to extend the deadline if Iran resumes direct negotiations with the US over its nuclear program, allows UN nuclear inspectors access to its nuclear sites, and accounts for the over 400 kg of highly enriched uranium the UN watchdog says it has. However, so far, none of these conditions have been met by Iran.

The stalemate in the negotiations between Iran and the IAEA, coupled with the increasing nuclear stockpile, continues to be a matter of significant international concern. The resumption of inspections and a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing crisis remain crucial for maintaining peace and nuclear non-proliferation efforts in the region. Discussion between Iran and the IAEA will continue in Vienna "in the next few days."