The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed in a report that it found enriched uranium to 83.7 percent at Iran’s underground nuclear site in Fordow.
The Associated Press obtained a copy of a confidential IAEA quarterly report stating that “particles” of the substance, just below the 90% enrichment level considered “military grade,” had been detected.
The IAEA last month chastised the Islamic Republic for modifying the connection between two centrifuge clusters at its Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP). The change was discovered during an unannounced inspection at the site, which is built into a mountain.
The new IAEA report confirms that on Jan. 21, two cascades of IR-6 centrifuges at the FFEP had been configured in a manner “substantially different” from what had been previously declared. Inspectors took samples at the site the following day, which showed particles of uranium enriched up to 83.7%, the report said.
“Iran informed the agency that ‘unintended fluctuations’ in enrichment levels may have occurred during the transition period. Discussions between the agency and Iran to clarify the matter are ongoing,” added the report.
