Following formal criticism of Iran’s nuclear program by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Tehran has announced that it plans to commission thousands of new centrifuges for uranium enrichment.
The installation should take place in the next four to six months, deputy director of Iran’s Atomic Energy Agency Behrus Kamalwandi said, according to a report by ISNA news agency.
“In this way, the Western parties that have tried to roll back Iran’s nuclear program will be confronted with a different reality: a program that is much more comprehensive and progressive in both quantity and quality,” Kamalwandi said, according to the report. “They certainly won’t like this.”
The pressure on Tehran is growing: answers are needed about its nuclear program
On Thursday, the IAEA Board of Governors issued a resolution directing IAEA head Rafael Grossi to submit a report on outstanding questions about Iran’s nuclear program by the spring. IAEA inspectors have been demanding for years that Tehran provide conclusive statements about traces of secret nuclear facilities and previous nuclear activities. According to Western diplomats, Grossi’s report could serve as a basis for involving the UN Security Council if Tehran continues to fail to provide answers.
In a joint statement, the US, France, Germany and Britain called on Iran to cooperate and clarify open questions. “We hope that Iran will use the time awaiting this report to finally provide the necessary information and cooperation needed to resolve these issues,” the statement said.
Nuclear program probably only for civilian purposes
Iran currently enriches uranium to a purity of 60 percent; experts say more than 90 percent is needed for nuclear weapons. According to the Iranian government, the nuclear program is used only for civilian purposes. Then-US President Donald Trump in 2018 unilaterally ended the Vienna nuclear pact, which was intended to limit Iran’s program and ease sanctions in return. Since then, the Islamic Republic no longer strictly adheres to the requirements.
Source: Krone
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