DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran is set to begin enriching uranium with thousands of advanced centrifuges at its two main nuclear facilities at Fordo and Natanz, according to the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced on Friday that Iran will use the centrifuges to enrich uranium to 5% purity, which is far lower than the 60% it currently enriches. The move comes after Iran threatened to rapidly advance its program after the IAEA Board of Governors condemned Iran for failing to cooperate fully with the agency.
The IAEA stated that Iran will feed uranium into 45 cascades of its advanced IR-2M, IR-4, and IR-6 centrifuges, which are groupings of centrifuges that spin uranium gas together to more quickly enrich the uranium. Each cascade can hold a large number of centrifuges, with Iran having previously put around 160 centrifuges into a single cascade.
The exact timing of when Iran will start feeding uranium into the centrifuges is unclear, as Tehran has been vague about its plans. However, starting enrichment at 5% gives Iran both leverage in negotiations with the West and another means to pressure the West if necessary.
The United States State Department expressed concern over Iran’s announcement, saying it was “deeply concerned with Iran’s announcement that it is choosing the path of continued escalation instead of cooperation with the IAEA.” Iran has vowed to continue its nuclear program, despite the US withdrawal from Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
The nuclear deal, which lifted sanctions in exchange for restrictions on Iran’s program, has been in danger since the US withdrawal. The IAEA has been limited in its access to Iran’s atomic sites and has not received full answers on other sites where nuclear material has been found.
Iran has hinted at a willingness to negotiate with the West, but has also launched attacks on Israel amid its wars in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. It is unclear how the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump will approach Iran, but Iran has threatened to rapidly advance its program if the US continues to pressure it.
