This handout satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies on Jan 8, 2020 shows an overview of Iran's Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP), northeast of the Iranian city of Qom. (SATELLITE IMAGE ©2021 MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES / AFP)
DUBAI/VIENNA – Iran has begun enriching uranium to 60 percent purity at its Fordow nuclear plant and plans a vast expansion of its enrichment capacity, the UN nuclear watchdog said on Tuesday, detailing the latest acceleration of Iran's atomic program over Western objections.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was confirming Iranian reports of Tehran's step, taken after the agency resolution last week which ordered Iran to cooperate with its years-long investigation into the origin of uranium particles found at three undeclared sites.
The International Atomic Energy Agency was confirming Iranian reports of Tehran's step, taken after the agency resolution last week which ordered Iran to cooperate with its years-long investigation into the origin of uranium particles found at three undeclared sites
"Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi today said Iran had started producing high enriched uranium – UF6 (uranium hexafluoride) enriched up to 60 percent – using the existing two cascades of IR-6 centrifuges in the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, in addition to such production that has taken place at Natanz since April 2021," the agency said in a statement.
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It was summarizing a confidential report to IAEA member states seen by Reuters on various moves taken and planned by Iran at enrichment plants at Fordow and Natanz.
Centrifuges
Iran only has six cascades, or clusters, of IR-6 centrifuges in operation at three plants at Fordow and Natanz. Diplomats said the IR-6 is the most advanced model it is using on such a scale.
It plans to add 14 more IR-6 cascades at Fordow, six of which will replace first-generation IR-1 machines, the IAEA said. They will enrich to up to 5 percent or up to 20 percent, it added.
In the longer term, however, Iran plans an expansion of its underground, commercial-scale Fuel Enrichment Plant at Natanz, where it is also installing and bringing online more cascades of advanced centrifuges.
"Iran continues to advance its enrichment activities at the Fuel Enrichment Plant in Natanz and now plans to install a second production building, capable of housing over 100 centrifuge cascades," it said.
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The 2015 nuclear pact between Iran and six world powers lets Iran use only first-generation IR-1 centrifuges but, as the deal unravelled after then-President Donald Trump ditched it in 2018, Tehran has installed cascades of more efficient advanced centrifuges, such as the IR-2m, IR-4 and IR-6. It has also resumed enrichment at Fordow, which was barred under the deal.
That 60 percent purity is below the roughly 90 percent needed for weapons-grade material but well above the 20 percent Iran produced before the 2015 agreement with major powers to cap enrichment at 3.67 percent.
US officials declined to confirm that Iran was enriching to 60 percent at Fordow, repeating their preference to use diplomacy to curb Iran's nuclear program but saying all options were available to US President Joe Biden.
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The IAEA resolution is the second this year targeting Iran over the investigation, which has become an obstacle to talks on reviving the 2015 deal because Iran demands an end to the probe.
Indirect US-Iranian talks to revive the accord have been stalemated since September.