Iran Says Its Stockpiles Of Enriched Uranium Now Exceed Limit In Nuclear Deal

Iran has exceeded the limit under the 2015 nuclear deal for its stockpile of enriched uranium, the country's first breach of the international agreement following the Trump administration's decision to pull out a year ago.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Monday that the country now has more than 300 kilograms (661 pounds) of low-enriched uranium, surpassing the deal's 300-kilogram threshold.

The limit is part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Obama-era agreement from which President Trump withdrew the U.S. in May 2018. The U.S. reimposed sanctions it had committed to lifting under the accord. According to Iran's Islamic Republic News Agency, Zarif said that since his country isn't seeing the economic benefits promised, Iran is allowed to exceed restrictions on enriched uranium.

Why is low-enriched uranium important?

The low-enriched uranium is a key part of the JCPOA. On its own, the material isn't regarded as dangerous.

"This is good for mainly producing electricity at this level," NPR's Peter Kenyon reports. But, he adds, "the worry was that if this stockpile kept growing and growing, it would be easier for Iran to someday decide perhaps to enrich it even further, to the point where it might be used in a nuclear warhead."