Iran has secretly amassed near weapons-grade levels of uranium and could soon have enough for NINE ATOM BOMBS
IRAN has secretly increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels and could soon have enough to make atomic weapons, the UN's nuclear watchdog has warned.
Tehran has now become the only non-nuclear-weapon state to have produced such material, according to a confidential report released by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
7
7
7
7
The regime has amassed 408.6 kgs of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent, which is a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent.
That's an increase of 133.8kgs - almost 50 per cent - since IAEA's last report in February.
Theoretically, some 42 kilograms of 90 per cent enriched uranium is enough to produce one atomic bomb.
This means if Tehran manages to enrich its current stockpile to weapons-grade levels, it would be sufficient to make at least nine atom bombs.
The UN report also estimates that Iran's overall stockpile of enriched uranium stood at 9,247.6kgs - an increase of 953.2kgs since February.
It comes as Tehran and Washington have been holding several rounds of talks over a possible nuclear deal that President Donald Trump is trying to reach.
Iran has maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.
But Rafael Grossi, the Director General for the IAEA, warned the world that the regime is "not far away" from completing a successful nuclear test aimed at military use.
US intelligence agencies assess that Iran has yet to begin a weapons program - but is in a position to produce a nuclear weapon if it wishes to.
Israel accused Iran of being determined to acquire nuclear weapons after the UN report was shared with member states.
The report was a "clear warning sign" that "Iran is totally determined to complete its nuclear weapons programme", a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.
It said IAEA's report strongly reinforces what Israel has been saying for years: the purpose of Iran's nuclear program is not peaceful.
Israel MUST defy Trump and strike weakened Iran to neutralise nuclear threat
"Such a level of enrichment exists only in countries actively pursuing nuclear weapons and has no civilian justification whatsoever," it added.
The Sun previously revealed chilling satellite pictures showing Iran's sprawling secret nuclear site codenamed "Rainbow".
Sources inside Iran uncovered how the base is being used to develop nuclear-capable missiles with a 2,000-mile range - able to strike US bases in the Middle East.
But despite US Vice President JD Vance insisting talks between the US and Iran on the "right pathway", Tehran has secretly been greatly expanding its nuclear empire.
A powerful nuclear blast from Iran could have disastrous consequences for the Middle East - and beyond - thanks to the capability of the warheads.
This week, senior Iranian officials dismissed speculation about an imminent nuclear deal with the US.
They said that any agreement must fully lift sanctions and allow the country's nuclear program to continue.
The comments came a day after Trump said he had told Netanyahu to hold off on striking Iran to give the US administration more time to push for a new deal with Tehran.
Trump said on Friday that he still thinks a deal could be completed in the not-too-distant future.
Iran's accelerates nuclear development
Exclusive by Katie Davis, Chief Foreign Reporter (Digital)
IRAN is believed to have accelerated its nuclear weapons development and is building terrifying nuclear warheads for solid-fuel missiles with a range exceeding 1,800 miles (3,000km).
A powerful blast from Iran could impact on several continents due to the chilling capability of the warheads.
Italy, Ukraine, Sudan, India and even large swaths of Russia would all potentially be in the firing line.
They are being developed at two sites in Shahrud and Semnan, which were previously pinned as rocket or space satellite launch sites.
A third site, Sorkheh Hesar, is also said to be carrying out projects, including research on nuclear power and underground explosions.
Nukes are being quickly created under the watchful eye of the regime's nuclear weaponization entity, the Organization for Advanced Defense Research (SPND).
Bosses are developing nuclear warheads for the solid-fuel Ghaem-100 missiles, which are equipped with mobile launch platforms at the Shahrud site.
Iran's rocket designers have used North Korea's missiles as a guide to develop the Ghaem-100 missile.
When the missile was in a very early testing stage in 2011, dozens of missile experts were killed at the Modarres site in Tehran.
Personnel vehicles are banned from entering the Shahrud site and are forced to park at a checkpoint before people are transported in.
Meanwhile, they are using the liquid fuel missile Simorgh to develop nuclear warheads in Semnan.
Iran has staged three successful Ghaem-100 missile launches over the past two years, enhancing the regime's capability to deploy nuclear weapons.
He added: "They dont want to be blown up. They would rather make a deal.
"It would be a great thing if we could have a deal without bombs being dropped all over the Middle East."
Tehran was slapped with a chilling deadline to either hold direct talks and sign a new nuclear agreement or potentially face military action.
But Khamenei strongly refused to agree to Trump's demands, saying that Iran will not engage in any direct negotiations with the US.
The snub saw a furious Trump rip into the regime and threaten to strike Iran.
Trump said he would slap Tehran with further sanctions under his administration's maximum pressure policy to cripple its economy.
Trump told NBC: "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing.
"It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before."
The war of words came as the US amassed at least five B-2 strategic bombers on the British island of Diego Garcia - all aimed at Iran.
Iran is over 2,300 miles from where the bombers are stationed - but the B-2s have a massive 6,900-mile range.
The heavy bombers can obliterate targets with their huge 25-tonne bomb payload per jet.
It had been thought the five B-2 Spirit bombers were aimed at Yemen and the Houthi terror group after Trump launched strikes against them two weeks ago.
7
7
7
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
28 minutes ago
- The Independent
Britain to ‘send message to Moscow' with 12 new nuclear-powered submarines
Britain plans to build up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack Submarines amid rising global threats, according to an upcoming defence review by Sir Keir Starmer. The Ministry of Defence will allocate £15bn to develop new warheads for the UK's nuclear deterrent as part of a broader effort to enhance the country's war readiness. Defence Secretary John Healey emphasised the need to confront Russian aggression and ensure Britain 's security, highlighting daily cyber attacks from Russia targeting the UK's defence systems. On Sunday, Mr Healey described the review as a 'message to Moscow '. The 130-page defence review, expected to be published on Monday, includes 62 recommendations and aims to boost investments in shipbuilding, drone technology, and cyber defence, potentially creating tens of thousands of skilled jobs. The nuclear investments are projected to support 30,000 skilled jobs across the UK and will necessitate significant infrastructure upgrades at the Atomic Weapons Establishment in Aldermaston.
Reuters
35 minutes ago
- Reuters
Indian manufacturing growth eases to 3-month low in May, PMI shows
BENGALURU, June 2 (Reuters) - India's manufacturing growth slowed to a three-month low in May as demand softened amid price pressures and geopolitical tensions but job creation hit a record high, a survey showed on Monday. Solid manufacturing growth has helped India's economy outperform its major peers. Asia's third-largest economy grew 7.4% last quarter from a year earlier, the fastest expansion since early 2024 and much quicker than a Reuters poll median estimate of 6.7%. The HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) (INPMI=ECI), opens new tab, compiled by S&P Global, fell to 57.6 in May from 58.2 in April, lower than a preliminary estimate of 58.3, but still well above the 50.0 level that separates growth from contraction. "India's May manufacturing PMI signalled another month of robust growth in the sector, although the rate of expansion in output and new orders eased from the previous month," said Pranjul Bhandari, chief India economist at HSBC. The expansion in new orders - a key gauge of demand - eased to a three-month low but remained historically strong, supported by healthy domestic consumption and international sales. Output growth decelerated to its weakest pace since February, though manufacturers maintained positive sentiment about the year ahead. Job creation was one major bright spot, with manufacturers increasing hiring at the fastest pace in the survey's history, with permanent positions being created more frequently than temporary roles. "The acceleration in employment growth to a new peak is certainly a positive development," Bhandari said. Cost pressures intensified during May, with input price inflation climbing to a six-month high. Manufacturers passed these costs on to customers, with output price inflation among the highest in over 11 years. Growing price pressures could complicate monetary policy decisions for the Reserve Bank of India, which has already cut its key repo rate by a cumulative 50 basis points this year as overall inflation remains below the RBI's 4.0% target. The central bank is expected to cut interest rates on June 6 for a third consecutive meeting and once more in August, a Reuters poll showed last week.
The Independent
41 minutes ago
- The Independent
China blasts US for its computer chip moves and for threatening student visas
China blasted the U.S. on Monday over moves it alleged harmed Chinese interests, including issuing AI chip export control guidelines, stopping the sale of chip design software to China, and planning to revoke Chinese student visas. 'These practices seriously violate the consensus' reached during trade discussions in Geneva last month, the Commerce Ministry said in a statement. That referred to a China-U.S. joint statement in which the United States and China agreed to slash their massive recent tariffs, restarting stalled trade between the world's two biggest economies. But last month's de-escalation in President Donald Trump's trade wars did nothing to resolve underlying differences between Beijing and Washington and Monday's statement showed how easily such agreements can lead to further turbulence. The deal lasts 90 days, creating time for U.S. and Chinese negotiators to reach a more substantive agreement. But the pause also leaves tariffs higher than before Trump started ramping them up last month. And businesses and investors must contend with uncertainty about whether the truce will last. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the U.S. agreed to drop the 145% tax Trump imposed last month to 30%. China agreed to lower its tariff rate on U.S. goods to 10% from 125%. The Commerce Ministry said China held up its end of the deal, canceling or suspending tariffs and non-tariff measures taken against the U.S. 'reciprocal tariffs' following the agreement. "The United States has unilaterally provoked new economic and trade frictions, exacerbating the uncertainty and instability of bilateral economic and trade relations,' while China has stood by its commitments, the statement said. It also threatened unspecified retaliation, saying China will 'continue to take resolute and forceful measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.' And in response to recent comments by Trump, it said of the U.S.: 'Instead of reflecting on itself, it has turned the tables and unreasonably accused China of violating the consensus, which is seriously contrary to the facts.' Trump stirred further controversy Friday, saying he will no longer be nice with China on trade, declaring in a social media post that the country had broken an agreement with the United States. Hours later, Trump said in the Oval Office that he will speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping and 'hopefully we'll work that out,' while still insisting China had violated the agreement. 'The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US,' Trump posted. 'So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!' The Trump administration also stepped up the clash with China in other ways last week, announcing that it would start revoking visas for Chinese students studying in the U.S. U.S. campuses host more than 275,000 students from China. Both countries are in a race to develop advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, with Washington seeking to curb China's access to the most advanced computer chips. China is also seeking to displace the U.S. as the leading power in the Asia-Pacific, including through gaining control over close U.S. partner and leading tech giant Taiwan.
