Rouhani: Gas Injection to Begin in Fordow Facility

By Staff, Agencies

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says Iran will start injecting uranium gas into centrifuges at the Fordow enrichment facility on Wednesday, in the latest step the country is taking away from a 2015 multinational nuclear deal in response to the United States' withdrawal.

In a Tuesday speech broadcast live on TV, Rouhani said the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran [AEOI] will be ordered to begin the gas injection process at the Fordow nuclear facility – where 1,044 centrifuges are installed – under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] on Wednesday.

“The fourth step will begin by injecting gas into 1,044 centrifuges at Fordow facility,” Rouhani said, adding that, “Our fourth step in reducing our commitment to the nuclear agreement will be implemented tomorrow [Wednesday, Nov 6, 2019]”.

He, however, reaffirmed that all actions Iran has so far taken to reduce its commitments under the nuclear deal remain reversible.

Rouhani explained, “This step is similar to the previous steps and can be reversed if the other parties abide by their commitments in the nuclear agreement”.

The Iranian president said Iran is ready to resume its nuclear commitments when the remaining parties to the deal – officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [JCPOA] – fulfill their end of the bargain.

Iran, he added, cannot continue to uphold its side of the agreement unilaterally, while the other parties keep failing Tehran.

Rouhani said, that “There is a two-month deadline for negotiations and finding a solution to the sale of Iranian oil and money transfer”.

The Iranian President concluded that, “If the sanctions on Iran are completely removed, we will restore the status quo ante completely”.

President Rouhani further expressed Iran’s readiness to restart nuclear talks with member states of the P4+1 group, saying that the “fresh activities will be under the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] supervision”.