The IAEA's latest reports found that Iran increased production of highly enriched uranium since December. In the past quarter, Iran's stock of uranium enriched to 60% purity grew by 92.5 kg to reach a total of 274.8 kg, which if enriched further is enough for six nuclear weapons, according to IAEA measures. Iran is now producing between 35 and 40 kg of uranium enriched up to 60% per month, up from between 6 to 9 kg a month prior to December.
News Briefs
February 16, 2025
The Central Bank of Iraq banned five domestic banks from facilitating U.S. dollar transactions following meetings in Dubai with representatives of the U.S. Federal Reserve and Treasury Department. Iraqi banks are often used by Iranian actors as a source of a hard currency and a means to evade U.S. sanctions. The banned banks are Al-Mashreq Al-Arabi Islamic Bank, United Bank for Investment, Al Sanam Islamic Bank, Misk Islamic Bank, and Amin Iraq For Islamic Investment and Finance. The restrictions also cover three Iraqi payment services firms: Amawl, AL-Saqi Payment, and Aqsa Payment.
-- Reuters
February 13, 2025
The first of two vessels carrying Chinese-made sodium perchlorate, the main precursor chemical for the production of solid propellent missile fuel, docked at the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas to deliver its cargo. Both the Golbon and a second vessel, the Jairan, are operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and are collectively carrying a 1000-ton shipment of sodium perchlorate for the Procurement Department of the Self Sufficiency Jihad Organization (SSJO). The Golbon left the Chinese port of Taicang three weeks ago, while the Jairan has yet to leave China.
-- CNN
February 6, 2025
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) took delivery of the nation’s first ship capable of launching drones and helicopters, according to IRGC Navy Commander Alireza Tangsiri. The ship, called the Shahid Beheshti, is a modified container vessel. It has a 180 meter runway and can reportedly launch and retrieve larger Iranian drones, such as the Qaher. The ship also holds fast-attack craft, unmanned submarines, and short-range anti-ship cruise missiles.
-- Reuters
February 4, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump issued a presidential memorandum restoring his “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran in an attempt to prevent the nation from acquiring nuclear weapons. The memorandum directs the U.S. Treasury and State Departments to use sanctions and enforcement mechanisms to reduce Iran’s oil exports to zero. Iran's oil exports brought in $53 billion in 2023, according to the U.S. Energy Information Agency. The president also asked U.S. allies to “snapback” international sanctions on Iran that were lifted by the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
-- Reuters
February 3, 2025
Iran is directing a team of scientists and weapons engineers to explore a faster way to convert the country's stockpile of highly enriched uranium into a workable nuclear weapon, according to U.S. intelligence. This approach would rely on an older-style nuclear weapon design that could not be miniaturized to fit on a ballistic missile, rather than the more sophisticated design Iran received from Pakistani nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan. This shortcut approach might cut the development timeline for a weapon down to a few months from the current U.S. and Israeli estimates of between one to two years.
-- The New York Times
February 2, 2025
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent calls for a new deal restricting Iran’s nuclear program. Khamenei cited Trump’s withdrawal from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) during his first term as justification, although other Iranian officials expressed openness to negotiations with the United States.
-- Reuters
February 2, 2025
Iran unveiled a new ballistic missile called the Etemad during a ceremony in Tehran attended by President Masoud Pezeshkian. The missile is 16 meters in length, 1.25 meters in diameter, and has a range of 1,700 km. It was developed by Iran's Defense Ministry.
-- IRNA
January 31, 2025
Israel accused Iranian diplomats and Turkish citizens of smuggling tens of millions of U.S. dollars in suitcases through the Beirut airport to Hezbollah. The Lebanese government is obligated to secure the country’s ports of entry and prevent the supply of arms and related materials to Hezbollah under the terms of a November ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, however the agreement does not specifically mention cash transfers. Israel has threatened air strikes on the Beirut airport if it continues to be used to supply Hezbollah.
-- Wall Street Journal
January 27, 2025
Senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Ali Shadmani announced that Iran has purchased Sukhoi-35 fighter jets from Russia. Shadmani did not state how many jets were purchased or whether they had been delivered to Iran. Shadmani is also Deputy Coordinator of Khatam-ol-Anbia Central Headquarters.
-- Reuters