Iran has defied international demands to rein in its nuclear program and has increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels, according to a confidential report by the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog seen Tuesday by The Associated Press.

Iran has tried in vain to prevent a Western push for a resolution against it at the U.N. nuclear watchdog's board meeting by offering to cap its stock of uranium just shy of weapons grade, the watchdog and diplomats said on Tuesday.

International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said Iran has accepted a request to stop increasing its 60% uranium stock, which is enriched to near weapons-grade levels. Uranium enriched at 60% purity is just a short,