Iran has secretly amassed enough near weapons-grade uranium for nine atom bombs, UN warns

Iran has secretly amassed near weapons-grade levels of uranium and could soon have enough for nine atom bombs, the UN warns.

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).

The regime has amassed 408.6kg 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 133.8kg -- almost 50 per cent -- since IAEA’s last report in February.

Theoretically, some 42kg of 90 per cent enriched uranium is enough to produce one atomic bomb.

An Iranian military truck carries parts of a Sayad 4-B missile. Picture: Atta Kenare/AFP

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 9,247.6kg -- an increase of 953.2kg since February.

It comes as Tehran and Washington have been holding several rounds of talks over a possible nuclear deal that US President Donald Trump is trying to reach.

Iran has maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

Part of the secret base codenamed Rainbow. Picture: NCRI

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 program”, a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Picture: Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP

It said IAEA’s report strongly reinforces what Israel has been saying for years -- the purpose of Iran’s nuclear program is not peaceful.

“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 3200km range - able to strike US bases in the Middle East.

The launch of a locally made Ghaem-100 satellite launcher in an undisclosed location. Picture: Sepah News/AFP

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.

US President Donald Trump has launched blistering threats on Iran. Picture: David Dermer/AP

The comments came a day after Mr Trump said he had told Mr Netanyahu to hold off on striking Iran to give the US administration more time to push for a new deal with Tehran.

Mr Trump said on Friday that he still thinks a deal could be completed in the not-too-distant future.

“They don't want to be blown up. They would rather make a deal,” he said.

“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 Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei strongly refused to agree to Mr Trump’s demands, saying that Iran will not engage in any direct negotiations with the US.

The snub saw a furious Mr Trump rip into the regime and threaten to strike Iran.

The unveiling of the Ghadr-380 naval cruise missile. Picture: Sepah News/AFP

Mr Trump said he would slap Tehran with further sanctions under his administration’s maximum pressure policy to cripple its economy.

“If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing,” Mr Trump told NBC.

“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 more than 3700km from where the bombers are stationed -- but the B-2s have a massive 11,100-mile (17,900km) 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 Mr Trump launched strikes against them two weeks ago.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission