What to Know About Iran’s Nuclear Program: Breakout Time

Over the past three years, Iran has drastically reduced its timeline to make the fuel needed for nuclear weapons, or its so-called “breakout time.” Breakout time is the amount of time Iran would require to enrich its stockpiles of enriched uranium to 90 percent, or nuclear weapons-grade. Iran has steadily increased its enriched uranium stockpiles across the 5, 20, and 60 percent purity levels — all of which Iran could use in a breakout to produce WGU for atomic weapons.

According to February 2024 estimates from the non-governmental Institute for Science and International Security, and using data reporting by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran can now make WGU for seven nuclear weapons in one month, nine nuclear weapons in two months, 11 nuclear weapons in three months, and 13 nuclear weapons in five months. This represents an increase of one nuclear weapon since the IAEA’s last reporting in November 2023.