Iran’s response to the attack on its nuclear site at Natanz, which took place on Sunday April 11, and which Tehran blames on Israel, was not long in coming. Shortly after arriving in Vienna for the resumption of negotiations for the rescue of the 2015 nuclear deal, on Tuesday April 13, Iranian chief negotiator Abbas Araghchi announced that Iran would begin enrichment at 60. % of its uranium. In the Natanz complex, one of the nerve centers of the Iranian nuclear program in the center of the country, will be installed “1,000 additional centrifuges”, “50% more efficient, in addition to replacing damaged machines”, added Mr. Araghchi.
Iranian Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed in a tweet overnight Tuesday to Wednesday that preparatory work had started and that Iran could produce uranium enriched to 60% from ” next week “.
Enriching UF6 up to 60% will be done in two cascades of IR-4 and IR-6 centrifuges in Natanz. Modification of the pr… https://t.co/BprnfnGUpz
These measures constitute a significant escalation in the violations of the nuclear agreement, gradually implemented by Tehran since 2019 in response to the exit of the United States from the “deal” – under the presidency of Donald Trump – and the reinstatement of American sanctions. . They are there ” reply “ from the Islamic republic to “Nuclear terrorism” Israel, assaulted Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday. The day before, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki had expressed concern over an announcement that qualified as “Provocative”, believing that she questioned Tehran’s seriousness in the talks. Mme Psaki however confirmed the will of the United States to continue the negotiations, in which they are indirectly associated, with Tehran. The Elysee Palace also condemned the Iranian decision, calling it “Serious development” requiring “A coordinated response” countries involved in these negotiations.
“Radiopharmaceuticals”
The 60% enrichment of uranium (against 20% currently) is well above the limit imposed on Tehran (3.67%) by the agreement signed in July 2015 with the 5 + 1 group (China, Russia , United States, France, United Kingdom and Germany). Never achieved in Iran, this level of uranium purity considerably shortens the time needed for the Islamic republic to achieve the manufacture of a nuclear weapon. One of the main objectives of the 2015 agreement was to extend this deadline. Iran, which denies wanting to acquire nuclear weapons, said Tuesday, through the spokesperson for the Iranian nuclear agency, Behrouz Kamalvandi, that enriched uranium “Will be used to manufacture a variety of radiopharmaceuticals”.
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