Reuters - Iran is enriching uranium to 4.5% purity, above the 3.67% limit set by its deal with major powers, the U.N. nuclear watchdog policing the deal told member states in a closed-door meeting on Wednesday, diplomats familiar with the figures said.

The International Atomic Energy Agency had previously said on Monday only that Iran was over the 3.67% limit, its second breach of the 2015 deal in as many weeks. An Iranian spokesman said on Monday it had passed 4.5%, according to the semi-official news agency ISNA.

On July 1 the IAEA verified that Iran�s stock of enriched uranium was 205 kg, more than the maximum 202.8 kg allowed under the agreement. At Wednesday�s meeting, IAEA officials said Iran�s stock of enriched uranium was now 213.5 kg.

Both figures were verified on Tuesday, the four diplomats said. Monday�s enrichment level was verified using online enrichment monitors, which report in real time. They said the level reported on Wednesday, however, was the result of a sample analysis.

It was not immediately clear whether the samples tested were taken on Monday or Tuesday.

The rise in the enrichment level is still far below the 20% Iran refined to before the nuclear accord, and the roughly 90% needed to make uranium weapons-grade.

Iran says it is responding to punishing economic sanctions the United States has imposed on Tehran since Washington pulled out of the nuclear deal a year ago. Washington says it is open to talks on a more far-reaching accord but Iran says it must first be able to sell as much oil as it did before the U.S. withdrawal.