Iran Has Capacity to Raise Uranium Enrichment Beyond 20%, Is Not Violating Law - AEOI

By Staff, Agencies

Iran has activated its advanced nuclear enrichment centrifuges, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran [AEOI] Spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi announced Saturday.

The atomic energy agency activated 20 IR-4 and 20 IR-6 centrifuges, Kamalvandi told a news conference in Tehran to announce details of the expected third round of cuts in nuclear commitments.

"We have started lifting limitations on our Research and Development imposed by the deal ... it will include development of more rapid and advanced centrifuges ... all these steps are reversible if the other side fulfills its promises," he said.

“Using our centrifuges, we will increase the Uranium reserve, and we have more than a thousand device,” Kamalvandi added.

The Iranian official said the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] has been informed about Iran's new nuclear steps which it will continue to monitor.

“The clock was ticking for other parties to salvage a 2015 nuclear deal and that it had the capacity to raise its uranium enrichment beyond 20%, although it had no plans to do so for the time being,” Kamalvandi added.

“We have started lifting limitations on our Research and Development imposed by the deal ... it will include development of more rapid and advanced centrifuges ... all these steps are reversible if the other side fulfils its promises,” he noted.

We made a lot of work in Fordo reactor on the level of scientific researches, and we will start establishing a third reactor, he stated further.

Referring to the IAEA, Kamalvandi said it has been informed about Iran’s new nuclear steps and it still has access to Iranian nuclear sites.

Noting that Iran's enemies don't want its advancement, Kamalvandi stated that Iran “will tackle the researches, development and Fordo reactor, and will be honest and will announce everything with transparency.”

Our nuclear industry, even in the course of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [JCPOA], will reach its designated goals, the official stressed.

Reiterating Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s statement, Kamalvandi left an open door, saying that in case the other party returned to their commitments, then we will do the same

“Iran has huge capabilities on the level of nuclear industry,” Kamalvandi didn’t hesitate to boast the fact.

We are not doing anything in violation of laws, he stressed, and we won't give the enemies any pretext in this regard.

Iran has rowed back on its nuclear commitments twice in compliance with articles 26 and 36 of the JCPOA.

Tehran says its reciprocal measures will be reversible as soon as Europe finds practical ways to shield the Iranian economy from unilateral US sanctions which were imposed last year when US President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal.

European signatories to the JCPOA have so far failed to uphold their commitments. They have expressed vocal support for the deal, but failed to provide meaningful economic incentives as required under the nuclear agreement.