Iran sharply increased its stockpile of nearly weapons-grade uranium amid its confrontation with Israel, according to the United Nations atomic-energy agency, in a challenge for the incoming Trump administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iran\u2019s decision to expand its stockpile of nuclear fuel and its failure to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the IAEA, which monitors Tehran\u2019s work, is set to trigger fresh diplomatic pressure from Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Concerns are growing in Western capitals<\/a> that Iran could decide to develop a nuclear weapon, after comments by senior Iranian officials that Tehran has mastered most of the techniques <\/a>for doing so. Israel\u2019s hollowing-out of Hezbollah<\/a>, Iran\u2019s most powerful proxy in the Middle East, has also prompted a public debate in Iran about whether the country\u2019s best form of deterrence lies in having an atomic bomb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Iran has always claimed that its nuclear work is solely for peaceful civilian purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both the incoming Trump administration and Tehran have sent mixed messages about whether they will seek confrontation or some kind of diplomatic engagement after President-elect Donald Trump<\/a> takes office on Jan. 20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read it all<\/a>.<\/p> The accurate take: Iran has significantly expanded its nuclear weapons program since Biden took office. It is now feigning restraint in anticipation of Trump\u2019s return and Israel\u2019s military achievements, which exposed Khamenei\u2019s vulnerabilities. https:\/\/t.co\/19MFSUDgm0<\/a><\/p>— Mark Dubowitz (@mdubowitz) November 19, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>