US concerned over Iran’s option of preserving nuclear arsenal

VIENNA — The United States says it has “serious concerns” that Iran is deliberately trying — at a minimum — to preserve a nuclear weapons option.

Washington’s chief envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency says a recent report by the nuclear watchdog shows that Iran is now either very near or already has enough low-enriched uranium to produce one nuclear weapon. Glyn Davies says that could happen if Iran made a decision to further enrich the material to weapons grade.

Davies says this ongoing enrichment activity moves Iran “closer to a dangerous and destabilizing possible breakout capacity.”

Davies spoke Wednesday at a closed session of the IAEA’s 35-nation board of governors.