On July 13, 2015, Iran’s nuclear material was at 20% purity. That means it was higher than needed for simple power production and closer to weapons grade. They had a large stockpile within the country. Estimated at 19,000 centrifuges installed at Natanz and 9,000 of those were enriched. They also had approximately 8-10,000 low-enriched. The estimated time to have what would be needed for weapons, at that time was estimated at 2-3 months.

On July 14 of that year, the JCPOA was signed by the US, other nations, and Iran. Under this agreement, enrichment levels would be held to 3.67%. Production wold be cut and the Fordow facility would be moved from production to research. As well as a few other changes within the system. It also allowed unfettered access by IAEA inspections.

Within the next few months, Iran shipped over 11 tons of enriched Uranium out of country due to the restrictions of the agreement. So started the nation of Iran to hold up to the agreement established by the global community.

On May 7, 2018, the nation of Iran was well below the limits set by the agreement. Approximately, as determined by IAEA inspections, Iran had 123.9 kg of 3.67% enriched uranium (U-235). This was below the agreement standards. This remained under the 300kg UF6 cap. They had retained only 5,060 IR-1 centrifuges at Natanz. Also less than the agreed upon amount. The 3067% enrichment was only 10% of the level required for weapons grade material. Here is the point when things drastically change.

On May 8, 2018, under the first Trump administration, the US was removed from the JCPOA agreement. Ending three years of Iranian nuclear compliance. Trump’s belief was that the initial time-frames within the agreement were not satisfactory. So instead of renegotiating for longer time-frames, President Trump removed the US from the agreement, opening the door for the agreement to fail and for Iran to restart their pursuit of weapons grade material.

By August of 2018, inspectors found that Iran had increased their stockpile from 1239.9kg to 139.4kg. The percentage had not changed and remained at 3.67% Both within the set agreement. But by the same time the next year (2019), that changed.

The July 1, 2019 inspection report showed an increase of plutonium (U-235) to the level of 205.0kg, 2.2kg over the required cap of 202.8kg. Also noted was that the enrichment held at 3.67%. But, just one week later, the inspectors found that within that week, Iran had increased enrichment to 4.5%. This exceeded the cap of enrichment of 3.67%. Now the world started to see the ramifications of the US removal from the treaty and renewed sanctions on Iran by the first Trump administration.

By the September 2021 reporting date, Iran has increased enrichment from the required 20% to 60%, This is only 30% from weapons grade enrichment. Their stockpile had gone from 2.4kg to 10kg in a span of a few moths, showing a huge uptick in production. The November report that year, showed that production of the 20% enrichment at 113.8kg while the 60% enrichment grew to 17.7kg. By the 2024 election cycle, the stockpiles in Iran had grown to 6,200kg. This included over 140kg enriched at the 60% level.

At the time of the start of the war with Iran by the US and Israel, IAEA reports showed that Iran had approximately 440-441kg of its uranium stockpile at 60% enrichment. An estimated total of 6,000kg covered all levels of percentages in the stockpile. According to the  IAEA Director, General Rafael Grossi, the amount of material listed at 60% purity, if purified to the 90% required for weapons grade, it would arm an estimated 10 nuclear warheads.

Iran was now producing at three facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.  The stockpile was kept in underground areas to prevent destruction if attacks occurred. IAEA inspectors were also being limited in inspection ability. The 60% enrichment purity is, understandably, concerning.  Civilian nuclear purity is only 5%. Nuclear reactors for electricity are only 20%. The increase to 60% is 40% over what is needed for electricity generation and closer to weapons grade by 10% in distance.

So the summary reads this way. The Obama administration initiated and agreement with Iran, which Iran followed and therefore was not to be seen as a nuclear threat. Donald Trump, in his first term, removed the US from the agreement and placed more sanctions on Iran. This opened the door for a massive increase of production and enrichment that sets at almost weapons grade level.

Because of this increase by Iran, the Trump administration (Operation Epic Fury) and the Israeli government (Operation Roaring Lion) launched the first attacks on Iran on February of this year. So the need to attack Iran for possible future nuclear attacks was the fault of the first Trump administration. By removing the US from the agreement, which Iran was following (at levels below required by the agreement), Donald Trump had opened the needed space and reason for Iran to grow its nuclear program. This nation is now in a war, initiated by the Current Trump administration for an issue that the first Trump administration caused.