Iran has cut higher-enriched uranium stock 'by half'

Iran has neutralised half of its higher-enriched uranium stockpile, as per a deal agreed earlier this year, the world's nuclear watchdog says.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has been checking Iran's adherence to the deal, struck with six world powers.

The powers want Iran to scale back its enrichment of uranium, which they fear could be used to make a nuclear bomb.
Iran says its nuclear work is peaceful. It agreed to the deal in exchange for the easing of some sanctions.

Iran has diluted half of its higher-grade enriched uranium stockpile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a confidential report.

The temporary agreement was signed in January, and ends in July.

Iran and the six powers involved - the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany - are keen to start drafting the terms of a new deal by May, but correspondents say they are still some way apart.

The world powers want Iran to agree to permanently reduce the scope of its enrichment programme and to give UN inspectors more oversight.