Iran's Nuclear Program: By The Numbers

Key Figures

4 The minimum estimated number of weeks Iran would require to produce enough weapon-grade uranium for a nuclear weapon, commonly referred to as “breakout.”
6 The number of nuclear weapons Iran could potentially produce with its current stockpile of 3.5% low-enriched uranium (LEU) hexafluoride. About 1,000 kilograms (kg) of 3.5% is needed to produce one nuclear weapon.
7,154 KG Amount of 3.5% LEU which Iran has stockpiled. Due to the non-linear, exponential nature of the uranium enrichment process, by enriching to the 3.5% level, Iran has already done 70% of the work necessary to reach weapons-grade uranium, which is enriched to the 90% level.
196 KG Amount of medium-enriched uranium (MEU) hexafluoride, enriched to the 19.75% level, which Iran has stockpiled. About 225 kg of 19.75% MEU is needed to produce one nuclear weapon. Due to the non-linear, exponential nature of the uranium enrichment process, by enriching to the 19.75% level, Iran has already done 90% of the work necessary to reach weapon-grade uranium, which is enriched to the 90% level.
18,458 The number of first-generation IR-1 centrifuges that Iran has deployed in its nuclear facilities.
9,842 The number of first-generation IR-1 centrifuges that are in operation in Iran’s nuclear facilities, of the 18,458 that have been deployed. If Iran places all of its IR-1 centrifuges online, its rate of uranium production could nearly double and significantly reduce Iran’s breakout time.
1,008 The number of second-generation IR-2 centrifuges that Iran has fully or partially installed. The IR-2 enriches uranium several times faster than its IR-1 predecessor, significantly reducing Iran’s breakout time.

Uranium Production Statistics

10,357 KG Total amount of low-enriched uranium (LEU) hexafluoride, enriched to the 3.5% level, which Iran has produced.
230 KG Monthly production rate of LEU hexafluoride, enriched to the 3.5% level.
410 KG Total amount of medium-enriched uranium (MEU) hexafluoride, enriched to the 19.75% level, which Iran has produced.
15 KG Monthly production rate of MEU hexafluoride, enriched to the 19.75% level.

Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP)

First revealed to the public in 2002 by the National Council of Resistance in Iran, the Natanz Enrichment Complex is Iran’s primary enrichment site. The Complex is divided into two facilities: the Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP), and the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP). The FEP is Iran’s "largest gas centrifuge uranium enrichment facility." Two of its three buildings are outfitted to hold cascade halls of 50,000 centrifuges each, and serve as the primary location for Iran’s production of 3.5% low enriched uranium (LEU). Although the FEP predominantly houses IR-1 centrifuges, Iran began installing advanced IR-2m centrifuges at the site in 2013.

15,420 The number of IR-1 centrifuges installed at the FEP.
8,818 The number of the IR-1 centrifuges installed at the FEP that are in operation, enriching the uranium hexafluoride (UF6) feedstock to the 3.5% level.
1,008 The number of second-generation IR-2 centrifuges that fully or partially installed at the FEP.

Natanz Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP)

The PFEP at Natanz is Iran’s "centrifuge research and development facility which uses uranium hexafluoride." The PFEP has one cascade hall comprised of six cascades, four of which “are dedicated to research and development.” The remaining two cascades are designated for uranium enrichment. One of these cascades is specifically designated for enriching uranium from 3.5% LEU to almost 19.75% LEU.

328 The number of IR-1 centrifuges deployed and operating at the PFEP, enriching the 3.5% LEU hexafluoride feedstock to the 19.75% level.

Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP)

The FFEP is Iran’s second known uranium enrichment site. Embedded deep within a mountain near the city of Qom, the site’s location is meant to "harden the facility against a potential military strike." Although satellite imagery shows construction on Fordow began some time between June 2006 and July 2007, its existence and location were not disclosed to the international community until September 2009. Iran has since revealed to the IAEA that "the FFEP’s purpose is the production of UF6 enriched both to 5% U-235 for power reactors and 20% U-235 for research reactors."

With two large enrichment halls holding 16 cascades of 174 centrifuges, the Fordow facility provides Iran with yet another major site for mass uranium enrichment. Given the concealed nature of Fordow, many analysts believe the facility was constructed "in order to covertly produce weapons-grade highly enriched uranium (HEU)."

2,710 The number of the IR-1 centrifuges installed at the FFEP.
696 The number of the IR-1 centrifuges installed at the FFEP that are in operation, enriching the 3.5% LEU hexafluoride feedstock to the 19.75% level.