Iran: IAEA, nuclear watchdog says Iran enriching to up to 60% at underground Fordow nuclear facility
CNN
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Iran has started production uranium The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi said on Tuesday that the country has enriched up to 60% in the underground Fordow nuclear facility, bringing the country closer to nuclear-grade material. weapon level.
“Iran has begun production of highly enriched uranium – UF6 is enriched to 60 % – using two stages of existing IR-6 centrifuges in the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP), in addition to Such production has taken place at Natanz since April 2021, the IAEA said in a statement.
The statement added that Iran has installed additional “series of advanced IR-6 centrifuges” and plans to “significantly expand production of low-enriched uranium – UF6 enriched to 5% or 20% – at Fordow,” near the north. – downtown Qom, through those advanced centrifuges.
This comes hours after Iranian state media Press TV reported that Iran had informed the IAEA that it had begun increasing uranium enrichment to a level of 60% purity in retaliation for its board of governors. IAEA urges Iran to cooperate in investigation of Unexplained uranium traces found at undisclosed locations of Iran.
Tehran “described the move as a strong message in light of the recent anti-Iran resolution adopted by the IAEA’s Board of Governors,” Press TV said.
The IAEA statement went on to add: “Director General Grossi said the Agency will notify Iran of its intention to increase the frequency and intensity of verification activities at FFEP under the Agreement on Safeguards. ”
“Iran continues to promote its enrichment activities at the Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP) in Natanz and now plans to install a second production building, capable of holding more than 100,” Grossi also said. centrifuge extraction.”
Iran has repeatedly denied its intention to build nuclear weapons.
However, this move is likely keep shortening Iran’s so-called “breakthrough moment” to build nuclear weapons.
This is the latest in a series of steps that go far beyond the parameters of the 2015 nuclear deal – known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – that Iran’s uranium enrichment restrictions at 3.67% in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. Weapon Level Uranium be considered has been enriched over 90%.
In 2018, former US President Donald Trump withdrew from the landmark agreement and then unleash a crushing wave economic sanctions on Iran. Since then, Tehran has ramped up uranium enrichment at a rate not seen since the signing.
A staunch opponent of Trump’s so-called “maximum pressure campaign” on Iran, US President Joe Biden began negotiations to revive the deal when he took office. But Biden’s policy has so far failed to reinvigorate it, and Iran has gradually increased the possibility of violating the end of the deal.
Following the IAEA report, the E3 group – which includes the UK, France and Germany – released a statement condemning Iran’s “decision to further expand” Iran’s nuclear programme.
“By increasing its production capacity at Fordow and Natanz, far beyond the limits of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and by accelerating production of enriched uranium, Iran has taken more significant steps. further in phasing out the JCPOA,” it said.
