VIENNA: Iran has further stepped up its production of highly enriched uranium, according to a confidential UN nuclear watchdog report, as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that Tehran deems nuclear weapons `unacceptable`.

According to the latest report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) seen by AFP, Iran has sharply increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to up to 60 per cent, close to the roughly 90pc level needed for atomic weapons.

Iran`s total amount of enriched uranium now exceeds 45 times the limit authorised by the 2015 agreement with world powers, and is estimatedat 9,247.6kg.

`The significantly increased production and accumulation of highly enriched uranium by Iran, the only non-nuclear weapon State to produce such nuclear material, is of serious concern,` the IAEA said.

In a separate in-depth report, the IAEA criticised `less than satisfactory` cooperation from Tehran over its scrutiny of its nuclear programme.

The report comes as Tehran pursues delicate negotiations with the US on its nuclear programme.

Western nations have long suspected Iran of seeking to develop a nuclear weapons capability to counter the widely suspected but undeclared arsenal of its arch-foe, Israel.

Following the IAEA report, Israelon Saturday accused Iran of being `totally determined` to acquire nuclear weapons.

Abbas Araghchi, however, reaffirmed the coun-try`s longstanding position, saying that Tehran considers nuclear weapons `unacceptable`.

`If the issue is nuclear weapons, yes, we too consider this type of weapon unacceptable,` Araghchi, Iran`s lead negotiator in the talks, said in a televised speech. `We agree with them on this issue.

Araghchi`s remarks came a day after US President Donald Trump said Iran `cannot have a nuclear weapon`, while expressing hope of striking a deal soon.

Iran has held five rounds of talks with the United States in search of a new agreement to replace the deal with major powers that Trump abandoned during his first term in 2018.

The two governments are at odds over Iran`s uranium enrichment programme, which the US has said must cease.

-AFP