Cairo hosted a high-stakes diplomatic meeting on Monday involving Iranian, Egyptian, and United Nations officials to address growing international concerns over Iran’s rapidly expanding nuclear program. The talks followed a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirming that Iran has significantly increased its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, alongside Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty. The meeting came amid rising regional tensions and renewed fears of a potential Israeli military strike on Iran’s nuclear sites, according to a report by CNN.
In a joint press conference, Grossi emphasized the urgency of diplomacy “There is an escalating tension here,” he said. “Our latest report shows the need for increased transparency, but above all, continued negotiation is critical.” The confidential IAEA report, obtained by the Associated Press, states that as of May 17, Iran has stockpiled approximately 408.6 kilograms (900.8 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60%. This represents a nearly 50% increase since the IAEA’s last assessment in February. Uranium enriched to 60% is just a technical step away from weapons-grade, which is 90% enrichment.
The report has deepened concerns among Western powers, especially amid stalled negotiations over the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal, which the United States exited in 2018 under President Donald Trump. While the Biden administration has attempted to re-engage Tehran, progress has been slow, and regional actors remain on high alert.
Iran’s leadership dismissed the IAEA’s findings as politically motivated, accusing Grossi of using the report to advance his candidacy for the role of United Nations secretary-general. As talks continue, Egypt has offered to serve as a mediator in efforts to de-escalate nuclear tensions and prevent further instability in the Middle East.
