Gas blast injures hundreds in Iran: Report

Tehran: A chlorine gas explosion in Iran’s western province of Elam has injured 217 people. The injured have been shifted to hospital. The Iranian broadcaster said in its initial reports that the explosion in the gas cylinders loaded in the trailer was due to the negligence of the driver.

Local officials said the situation in the area was now under control after the blast. Authorities say there were no casualties in the blast.

On the other hand, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has accused Iran of steadily increasing its enriched uranium reserves. IAEA inspectors have visited one of Iran’s two nuclear facilities. Iran allowed long-awaited international observers to inspect its two nuclear facilities last week.

A report released by the IAEA on Friday states that Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium has increased, although its stockpile of uranium is much lower than it was before the agreement was signed in 2015. Environmental samples were also collected from the nuclear facility by agency personnel. In which the presence of nuclear material at this place can be confirmed. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors will visit the second installation at the end of September on a date agreed with Iran, and samples will be collected from there, the report said.

Secret documents provided by the IAEA to the countries participating in the agreement state that Iran is increasing its stockpile of enriched uranium. After the increase, it has reached 2105 kg as against 1571 kg in May this year. An agreement reached with international powers in 2015 set a limit of 202 kg of enriched uranium on Iran, but the current amount is ten times higher. Iran has increased its uranium enrichment program after the United States unilaterally withdrew from the deal.