Iran's enriched uranium stocks exceed 300kg: Zarif

Zarif made the remarks on Monday while answering a question by Iran's ISNA news agency on the sidelines of a ceremony in the central Iranian city of Natanz.

Zarif made the remarks on Monday while answering a question by Iran's ISNA news agency on the sidelines of a ceremony in the central Iranian city of Natanz.

“According to my information, Iran has surpassed the 300kg limit [in producing low-enriched uranium] and we had already announced [that we were planning to do] this,” Iran's top diplomat said.

He added, “According to what has been announced, we have said very clearly what we are doing and consider this as part of our rights as per the JCPOA.”

IAEA: Inspectors checking Iran's enriched uranium stock

Following the revelation on Monday, Reuters quoted a spokesman for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as saying that the agency’s inspectors are verifying whether Iran has accumulated more enriched uranium than allowed under the JCPOA.

"We are aware of the media reports related to Iran's stockpile of low-enriched uranium (LEU)," the unnamed spokesman said, adding, "Our inspectors are on the ground and they will report to headquarters as soon as the LEU stockpile has been verified."

On July 17, the spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said the Islamic will surpass the uranium stockpile limit set under the nuclear deal from June 27.

"Today the countdown to pass the 300 kilograms reserve of enriched uranium has started and in 10 days time, we will pass this limit," Behrouz Kamalvandi told reporters at the Arak Heavy Water Reactor Facility.

"This is based on the Articles 26 and 36 (of the nuclear deal), and will be reversed once other parties live up to their commitments," he added.

Iran may also increase uranium enrichment to up to 20 percent for use in local reactors, he said.

SS