Iran denies enriching uranium above 60 percent

 

The Islamic Republic of Iran denied reports that it has enriched uranium to 84 percent purity. The spokesperson for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, Behrouz Kamalvandi, has said, “So far, we have not made any attempt to enrich uranium above 60 percent. The presence of particles above 60 percent enrichment does not mean production with an enrichment above 60 percent.”

Recently, the UN (United Nations) nuclear watchdog monitors detected uranium enrichment at 84 percent at the nuclear site in Iran. However, Kamalvandi called the UN report “slanderous” and denied enriching uranium above 60 percent.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), 84 percent purity is close to weapons grade. The IAEA inspectors were trying to determine if it was produced intentionally. IAEA wrote on Twitter, “The IAEA is aware of recent media reports relating to uranium enrichment levels in Iran.” The IAEA also discussed the results of recent Agency verification activities with Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Iran, which started enriching uranium to 60 percent at Fordow in November 2022, denied all the reports and claims by IAEA.

The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency revealed that the UN agency discovered an undeclared change to the interconnection between two machines, enriching advanced uranium. He also expressed concern over changes made in the interconnection between two cascades of advanced IR-6 centrifuges at the Fordow plant. Grossi further highlighted the importance of resuscitating diplomatic efforts to limit Iran’s nuclear program.

In November 2022, IAEA said that Iran was also planning a massive expansion of its enrichment capacity. IAEA also expressed concern over manmade uranium particles found at three undeclared sites in the country.

This comes as talks have stalled to revive the 2015 nuclear deal or JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action).