Iran Accelerates Nuclear Program as UN Urges Diplomacy; Trump Urged Against Appeasement “`

The UN’s nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, issued a warning on Wednesday that Iran is significantly accelerating its nuclear program, prompting calls for diplomatic engagement just days after President Trump’s return to the White House.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi informed world leaders at the Davos World Economic Forum that Iran possesses enough low-enriched uranium to produce nearly five nuclear weapons if further processed.

Grossi highlighted Iran’s stockpile of approximately 440 pounds of uranium enriched to 60% purity—a level close to the 90% needed for a nuclear weapon. Reuters reported that roughly 92 pounds of weapons-grade uranium suffices for a single nuclear bomb.

Grossi noted a perceived openness to dialogue and potential agreement from the new Trump administration.

Conversely, some of Trump’s conservative allies advocate for a continuation of the “maximum pressure” campaign used during his first term. Mark Levin, host of “Life, Liberty & Levin,” urged the President on X (formerly Twitter) to avoid appeasement, stating that negotiation with Iran’s leadership is futile, urging him not to pursue the “diplomatic solutions” of prior administrations.

According to Grossi, Iran’s production of 60% enriched uranium has increased from an average of 15 pounds per month to over 65 pounds, representing a considerable acceleration of the program.

While acknowledging the time required for Iran to acquire additional centrifuges for uranium enrichment, Grossi anticipates continued increases in production.

It remains unclear what prompted Grossi’s assessment of a potential openness to diplomacy from the Trump administration, given Trump’s previous stance of employing strict sanctions to counter Iran’s nuclear program and support for state-sponsored terrorism.

Republicans have consistently opposed diplomatic efforts, and Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018.

Reports suggest that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei may have prohibited nuclear weapons development, potentially signaling an olive branch to Trump; however, this remains unconfirmed. Such a ban wouldn’t necessarily halt Iran’s overall nuclear program development.

The White House could not be immediately reached for comment on whether President Trump intends to pursue diplomatic initiatives to address Iran’s nuclear program.