MESOP MIDEAST WATCH : GREAT DANGER AHEAD ! – Iran nuclear concerns rise ahead of IAEA meeting 

The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog agency has confirmed to member states the discovery of nuclear material inside Iran that is close to weapons-grade, The Wall Street Journal reported. Inspectors in January reportedly found traces of uranium enriched to 83.7% purity, just shy of the 90% needed to build a bomb. It’s unclear whether Iran’s production of near weapons-grade material was deliberate, a source close to the International Atomic Energy Agency told the Journal.

Accident or not, the matter will be on the agenda when the IAEA holds its quarterly board of governors meeting on March 6 and considers whether to censure Iran for its failure to cooperate with inspectors.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi will reportedly visit Tehran on Friday ahead of a trip to Washington later this month. Axios reported on Wednesday that Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi will be in DC next week for meetings with Biden administration officials that will focus on Iran.