Iran

[Max Peck]

Iran's uranium enrichment 'worrisome' - nuclear watchdog

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog has told the BBC Iran's decision to begin producing significantly more highly enriched uranium was "very worrisome".

Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said Iran was increasing its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60%, just below the level of purity needed for a nuclear weapon.

This will be seen by many in the region as Tehran's response to its military and diplomatic setbacks in Syria, Lebanon and Gaza in recent months.

Mr Grossi said it was "no secret" some politicians in Iran were calling for the development of a nuclear weapon - but after holding talks in Tehran in recent weeks, he said that "doesn't seem to be the path of choice" by the current leadership.

Mr Grossi was speaking on the margins of the Manama Dialogue conference in Bahrain run by the London-based think tank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

He warned Israel against attacking Iranian nuclear facilities, saying the consequences would be "very, very serious indeed" in terms of Tehran's retaliation and the potential spread of radiation.

He also said it was "extremely concerning" that more countries were thinking of acquiring nuclear weapons and that the public conversation about their use had become "normalised".