- Sputnik International, 1920
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Iran Begins Enriching Uranium in 4th Cluster of Advanced Centrifuges, Report Says

© AP Photo / AnonymousAn Iranian worker adjusts his hat at Iran's Isfahan nuclear, UCF, facility on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004
An Iranian worker adjusts his hat at  Iran's Isfahan nuclear, UCF, facility on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004 - Sputnik International, 1920, 01.04.2021
Subscribe
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Iran has begun to enrich uranium using the fourth cluster of advanced IR-2m centrifuges at the country's main nuclear facility in a further breach of the 2015 nuclear deal, according to a confidential report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) dated Wednesday and obtained by Reuters on Thursday.

Under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed between Tehran and major global powers in 2015, Iran is allowed to enrich uranium only using first-generation IR-1 centrifuges at the underground fuel enrichment plant (FEP) at Natanz. Last year Iran began adding more advanced centrifuges that can enrich much faster than the IR-1.

"On 31 March 2021, the Agency verified at FEP that: Iran had begun feeding natural UF6 [uranium hexafluoride used for enrichment] into a fourth cascade of 174 IR-2m centrifuges," the IAEA report said as cited by Reuters.

Iran has already informed the agency about its plans to use six cascades of IR-2m machines at the FEP. According to the report, the remaining two cascades were installed but are not yet enriching, Reuters stated.

In this April 9, 2009 file picture Iranian technicians work  at a new facility producing uranium fuel for a planned heavy-water nuclear reactor, just outside the city of Isfahan, 255 miles (410 kilometers) south of the capital Tehran. Iran is lagging behind on equipping a bunker with machines enriching uranium to a grade that can be turned quickly to arm nuclear warheads and now says will produce less at the site than originally planned, diplomats tell The Associated Press.   - Sputnik International, 1920, 30.03.2021
Iran May Reportedly Cease 20% Enrichment of Uranium Supplies if US Lifts 'All the Sanctions'
On March 8, the UN nuclear watchdog reported another instance of Iran violating the JCPOA by enriching uranium with a third cascade of advanced IR-2m centrifuges at Natanz FEP.

These moves are part of Tehran's response to the US withdrawal from the deal, initiated by former US President Donald Trump, and the reimposition of sanctions against the country.

Multiple countries have prompted the restoration of the JCPOA. The current Biden administration has pledged to revive the deal, but the effort is impeded by neither of the sides willing to make the first conciliatory move.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала