Salehi: Iran Will Reach 190kSWUs of Enrichment Capacity in 10 Months
Local Editor
Chief of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran [AEOI] Ali Akbar Salehi stressed that the country could reach 190,000 SWUs [separative work unit] of uranium enrichment capacity within 10 months at the Natanz nuclear site, where he inaugurated a facility for producing centrifuges.
Salehi made the remarks on state television on Wednesday night following the inauguration of the montage center at the Natanz plant in central Iran.
"We had designated Natanz for producing one million SUWs, and have provided the required infrastructure," he said.
SWU is the measure unit of uranium enrichment capacity.
"Within 10 months, with the launch of a set of newly-built enclosures, we could produce 190,000 SWUs at Natanz," said Salehi, adding, however, that "this does not mean we start the production of advanced centrifuges for industrial use at this facility," he added.
At this facility, he added, Iran would assemble centrifuges while staying within the limits outlined in the 2015 nuclear deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [JCPOA].
Salehi's comments came after the AEOI's letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] that informed the UN nuclear watchdog, which monitors the technical aspect of the JCPOA's implementation, of the start of certain nuclear activities at Natanz.
The AEOI is acting on an order by Leader of the Islamic Revolution His Eminence Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei, who urged on Monday preparations for a potential collapse of the Iran deal following the US's withdrawal.
Imam Khamenei ordered the AEOI to get prepared for a rise to 190,000 SWUs within the framework of the deal.
"Nothing has happened in violation of the JCPOA and there has been no disruption in the process of inspections with the recent order and statements of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution," Salehi said.
Last month, US President Donald Trump announced Washington's pullout from the JCPOA, vowing to reinstate nuclear sanctions on Iran and impose "the highest level" of economic bans on the Islamic Republic.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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