TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran has begun generating uranium enriched to 60 percent purity at the underground Fordo nuclear plant, state media reported Tuesday, describing it as a reaction to a solution through the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog.
The increased enrichment, reported through the official IRNA news agency, was noted as a vital addition to the country’s nuclear program.
From Vienna, the U. N. ‘s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA, said the 60 percent enrichment at Fordo adds to production at the Natanz plant in central Iran.
The IAEA also said Iran plans a “significant expansion” of its low-enriched uranium production at Fordo and a momentary production facility at Natanz. Fordo is located about a hundred kilometers (62 miles) south of the capital, Tehran.
Enrichment to 60% purity is one technical step away from military-grade levels of 90%.
IRNA gave main points about the amount of enriched uranium produced at Fordo.
Later on Tuesday, a joint meeting of Germany, France and Britain, the three Western European countries that remain in the Iran nuclear deal, condemned Iran’s latest move to further expand its nuclear program.
“Iran’s move is a challenge to the global non-proliferation system,” said one of the 3. “This step, which carries significant proliferation risks, has no credible civilian justification. “
“We will continue to consult, together with our foreign partners, on the most productive way to deal with Iran’s continued nuclear escalation,” he added.
On Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said his country was taking action in reaction to a solution approved last week through the IAEA.
The resolution, approved by the IAEA’s board of governors, called for Iran’s cooperation with an agency-led investigation into synthetic uranium waste discovered at 3 undeclared sites in the country.
Germany, France and Britain said Iran’s claims that its new moves are a reaction to the solution were “unacceptable. “
Earlier this month, the IAEA said it believed Iran had much higher stockpiles of highly enriched uranium. Last week, the company criticized Tehran for proceeding to deny company officials or monitor Iranian nuclear sites.
A separate report said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi was “seriously concerned” that Iran has yet to have had interaction in the agency’s investigation into synthetic uranium waste at the 3 undeclared sites, the main sticking point in talks for a new nuclear deal.
It has been about two years since IAEA officials had full access to monitor Iran’s nuclear sites, and five months since the tracking device was withdrawn.
The IAEA’s assessment comes as efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, which eased sanctions against Iran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program, have stalled.
The United States unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, in 2018, President Donald Trump. It reimposed sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to begin abandoning the terms of the deal.
The Natanz semi-underground enrichment facility houses thousands of centrifuges. Iran began 60% enrichment at Natanz in 2019.
Natanz, the target of sabotage in 2021, an explosion that hit the new centrifuge installation rooms as Iran called it “nuclear terrorism” and a shadow war between Tehran and Israel, the main suspect of sabotage, broke out.
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