White House urges Iran to accept nuclear deal as IAEA reports uranium enrichment spike

The White House on Saturday said it is in Iran’s "best interest to accept" its proposal on a nuclear deal following a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency saying the country is swiftly increasing its stockpile of near weapons-grade enriched uranium. 

"President Trump has made it clear that Iran can never obtain a nuclear bomb," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. "Special Envoy [Steve] Witkoff has sent a detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime, and it’s in their best interest to accept it. Out of respect for the ongoing deal, the administration will not comment on details of the proposal to the media." 

The IAEA’s report said Iran had increased its stockpile to 900.8 pounds of uranium enriched by up to 60% as of May 17, a nearly 50% increase since the agency’s last report in February, which put the stockpile at 605.8 pounds. 

The report said Iran is "the only non-nuclear-weapon state to produce such material," which is a "serious concern."

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The White House on Saturday said it is in Iran’s "best interest to accept" its proposal on a nuclear deal after a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency said the country is increasing its stockpile of near weapons-grade enriched uranium.  (Getty Images)

The IAEA added that just 92 pounds of 60% enriched uranium is enough to produce an atomic bomb if it is enriched to 90%. 

Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but U.S. intelligence agencies say the country has "undertaken activities that better position it to produce a nuclear device, if it chooses to do so."

Iran’s Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said in a joint statement that the report was based on "unreliable and differing information sources," claiming that it was biased and unprofessional. 

The statement added, "The Islamic Republic of Iran expresses its disappointment about the report, which was prepared by imposing pressure on the agency for political purposes, and expresses its obvious objection about its content."

Atomic Energy Organization of Iran spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi and International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi in front of the gate of the Fordow nuclear enrichment plant in Fordow near the city of Qom last November.  (Atomic Energy Organization of Iran/AFP via Getty Images)

On Thursday, Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X that he was unsure a U.S.-Iran nuclear deal could be imminently reached.

"Iran is sincere about a diplomatic solution that will serve the interests of all sides. But getting there requires an agreement that will fully terminate all sanctions and uphold Iran's nuclear rights — including enrichment," he wrote. 

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Oman Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi presented the Trump administration’s first formal proposal in Tehran Saturday, which calls for Iran to cease all uranium enrichment and for a regional consortium that includes Iran, Saudi Arabia and other Arab states and the U.S. for producing nuclear power, The New York Times reported, citing people familiar with the document. 

An Iranian newspaper addresses the U.S.-Iran nuclear deal.  (Alborz Irani/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office also put out a rare statement on a Saturday about the IAEA’s report, calling it "grave."

"The agency presents a stark picture that serves as a clear warning sign: Despite countless warnings by the international community, Iran is totally determined to complete its nuclear weapons program," Netanyahu’s office said. 

"The report strongly reinforces what Israel has been saying for years — the purpose of Iran’s nuclear program is not peaceful. This is evident from the alarming scope of Iran’s uranium enrichment activity. Such a level of enrichment exists only in countries actively pursuing nuclear weapons and has no civilian justification whatsoever.

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"The report clearly indicates that Iran remains in non-compliance of its fundamental commitments and obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and continues to withhold cooperation from IAEA inspectors. The international community must act now to stop Iran."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.