Iran is boosting its enrichment of near weapons-grade uranium as tension between Tehran and Washington continues, according to a report from the nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency. 

The report, released Wednesday, found that Iran is sitting on 605 pounds of uranium enriched up to 60% as of early February. That is a 34% increase from what the IAEA found in its last report from November, which found the stockpile sitting at 401.9 pounds.

According to the agency, Iran is a short step away from developing weapons-grade uranium, which is categorized at 90% enrichment. 

“The significantly increased production and accumulation of high enriched uranium by Iran, the only non-nuclear-weapon state to produce such nuclear material, is of a serious concern,” the agency wrote. 

Iran’s escalating uranium enrichment has been helped by the Islamic Republic’s effort to increase the number of cascades. Cascades are clusters of centrifuges used to enrich uranium. The report found that Iran has added about 30 new cascades since its last report.

With this week’s report, Iran’s total stockpile of enriched uranium sits at 18,286 pounds. 

The report also expressed alarm over Iran’s failure to practice transparency within its nuclear program. According to the agency, Iran has maintained its ban on some of the IAEA’s most experienced inspectors from viewing the nation’s enrichment facilities. 

The report’s findings stand to increase tension between the U.S. and Iran, especially as President Trump seeks to pressure the regime economically. He has made it clear he will block Iran from building a nuclear arsenal, even as Iran asserts that its uranium enrichment program is only for commercial purposes. 

Iran has sent mixed messages to the U.S., indicating that while Tehran is open to negotiations concerning the nation’s nuclear program, it won’t negotiate under the threat of sanctions.

• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.