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Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have found particles of uranium enriched to 83.7% in Iran's underground site Fordo, BTA reports, referring to a report prepared by the agency.

The confidential quarterly report by the Vienna-based IAEA, which is circulated among member countries, looks set to heighten tensions between Iran and the West over Iran's nuclear program.

The IAEA report, which refers only to "particles", implies that Iran is not building up a stockpile of uranium enriched above 60%.

This is the level at which Tehran has been enriching uranium for some time.

Bloomberg: Iran Enriches Uranium to Nuclear Weapon Level

Tensions increased after Bloomberg first reported on February 19 this year that inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency had found uranium particles enriched to 84% in Iran.

Iran's civilian nuclear program spokesman Behruz Kamalvandi tried last week to portray the discovery of any particles of uranium enriched to this level as a momentary side effect of efforts to reach a finished product of 60 percent purity.

However, experts say such a large difference in cleanliness could look suspicious to inspectors.

The 2015 Iran nuclear deal limits Tehran's uranium enrichment to 3.67%, enough to power a nuclear power plant.

The U.S. unilateral withdrawal from the accord in 2018 sparked a series of attacks and escalating tensions with Tehran over its program.

Iran is enriching uranium to 60%, a level experts say Tehran can no longer use for civilian purposes.

Any accusations of a higher level of enrichment than that heighten the tension surrounding the program.

Uranium enriched to 84% almost reaches the weapons grade level of 90%.

This means that any stockpiles of this material could quickly be used to produce an atomic bomb in the event that Iran requested it.

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