The Facts
Iran has enough uranium, enriched up to 60% and thus almost weapons-grade, to build three nuclear bombs while still failing to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in vital areas, confidential reports from the UN nuclear watchdog revealed on Wednesday.
Iran's stockpile of 60% purity uranium grew by 6.7 kg (14.8 lbs) to 128.3 kg (282.9 lbs) since the last report on Sept. 4, the IAEA said in one of two reports distributed to member states. This equates to more than three times the amount of 42 kg (92.6 pounds) needed for a nuclear bomb if enrichment were to continue.
The Spin
Pro-Iran narrative
While the allegedly autonomous IAEA condemns Iran's uranium enrichment to 60% purity, the West prefers to conceal the fact that Iran's move is a reaction to the breach of commitments by certain signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal. Moreover — unlike many other countries in the world — Iran is not seeking nuclear weapons but is rather sending a message that illegal sanctions must be lifted. It's ludicrous for Washington to unilaterally terminate the nuclear deal and reimpose draconian sanctions while demanding strict compliance from Tehran.
Anti-Iran narrative
The new IAEA report proves yet again that Iran is closer than ever to building nuclear weapons. With the 2015 nuclear deal, the West aimed to control the threat posed by the Iranian regime but succumbed to the false assumption that Tehran is a rational actor. A nuclear weapon in the hands of the ruling mullahs, combined with Iran's increasingly advanced missile technology, could have apocalyptic consequences. The only way for the West to avert this scenario is to maximize military, economic, and diplomatic pressure on the regime in Tehran.
