World · Middle East · 1 hr ago
IAEA says 440kg of Iran’s enriched uranium is unaccounted for
The IAEA says it cannot account for about 440kg of Iran’s enriched uranium that it estimated Iran held before June 2025 air strikes.
The uranium was enriched to 60%, well above the 3.67% limit in the 2015 nuclear deal and near the 90% level used to make a nuclear weapon.
Iran has barred IAEA inspectors from its nuclear sites since July 2025, after Israel’s 12-day bombing campaign, which the United States joined.
Without access, the agency does not know the precise location of the Isfahan enrichment facility or whether it contains nuclear material.
The IAEA says the lack of information raises serious proliferation concerns and that verification work must resume without further delay.
Its director general is urging Iran to take gradual technical steps to make inspectors’ return possible and rebuild trust.
The IAEA board is due to discuss the report next week, but the report does not say what Iran will do next.
The IAEA says it cannot account for Iran’s enriched uranium because it lacks information and access to key nuclear sites.
Before the June 2025 strikes, the agency estimated Iran had about 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%.
The IAEA does not know the exact location or status of the Isfahan Fuel Enrichment Plant, or whether it contains nuclear material.
Iran has not allowed inspectors to return to nuclear facilities hit in the 2025 bombing campaign.
The agency says the lack of information and access raises serious proliferation concerns and urges Iran to allow verification without further delay.
- Who
- The International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran.
- What
- The IAEA says it lacks information about Iran’s enriched uranium and cannot verify the status of key facilities.
- When
- The report was issued on November 13, 2026; the uranium estimate refers to before the June 2025 strikes.
- Where
- Iran, including an enrichment plant at Isfahan.
- Why
- Iran has not allowed IAEA inspectors to return to facilities hit in the 2025 strikes, leaving the agency unable to verify the material and sites.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Iran declared the Isfahan Fuel Enrichment Plant to the IAEA.
The IAEA had planned to inspect the plant, but the bombing campaign began that day.
Iran began preventing IAEA inspectors from visiting its nuclear facilities, according to Okaz.
The IAEA report said the agency lacked information about Iran’s enriched uranium and could not verify the Isfahan plant.
The report is due to be discussed at a meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors.
- Uranium estimate
- About 440 kilograms enriched to 60% before the June 2025 strikes
- Isfahan plant declaration
- June 12, 2025
- Planned inspection
- June 13, 2025
- Inspection restrictions
- Iran has prevented visits since July 2025, according to Okaz
- Report date
- November 13, 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
The Agency's lack of information about this nuclear material and access to facilities to verify it is a matter of serious proliferation concern .... and needs to be rectified with the utmost urgency
The Agency does not know IFEP's exact location, status for safeguards purposes or whether it contains nuclear material