Connect with us

Frontpage

IAEA: Iran expands nuclear capacity

SHARE:

Published

on

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. You can unsubscribe at any time.

52831Iran continues to expand its capacity to enrich uranium, shortening the time it would need to produce sufficient highly enriched uranium for a nuclear device. Since President Hassan Rouhani’s election, Iran has installed some 2,000 additional centrifuges, according to a new International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report. 

According to the IAEA, While the EU should test whether President Rouhani is serious about nuclear negotiations, sanctions must be toughened until Tehran begins to change course.Iran has continued to expand its uranium enrichment capacity, shortening the time required to produce weapons-grade material.

  • The IAEA reports that over the last three months Iran installed an additional 2,000 centrifuges, bringing its total installed to 19,450 centrifuges.
  • If Iran fully utilized its inventory of installed centrifuges, it could produce sufficient quantities of uranium for a nuclear weapon within two months.
  • Iran has installed 1,000 second-generation centrifuges, including more than 300 since May. While not yet operating, these machines could enrich three-to-five times faster than previous models.
  • Iran also has a significant capability to surge its enrichment because it is only utilizing about half of its installed centrifuges and has “parked” a significant portion of its 20 percent enriched uranium in an easily convertible metallized form.

The Rouhani election has brought no identifiable change in Iran’s nuclear programme to date.

  • In the period since President Rouhani’s election, Iran has continued to enrich uranium in violation of U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. Iran has produced more than 1,600 lbs of low enriched uranium and 100 lbs of 20 percent enriched uranium since May.
  • Iran is also continuing UNSC-banned work on the Arak heavy water reactor. The IAEA reports that Iran has placed the reactor vessel into position and produced about 90 tons of heavy water.  Once operational, the reactor has the potential to produce enough plutonium for several bombs a year.
  • Iran continues to deny IAEA inspectors access to the Parchin site, where it is suspected to have carried out tests related to nuclear weaponization. The IAEA has previously reported on extensive concealment activities at the site that have “undermined the Agency’s ability to conduct effective verification.”
  • Iran continues to defy IAEA requests to address historic concerns over potential military dimensions to Tehran’s program.

The IAEA has stated: "Europe should increase the pressure on Tehran until it takes concrete positive action. Iran should not receive sanctions relief simply because President Rouhani says he wants to improve ties with the West. The international community should be willing to reciprocate meaningful Iranian steps, but should not modify sanctions in return for mere words."

Share this article:

EU Reporter publishes articles from a variety of outside sources which express a wide range of viewpoints. The positions taken in these articles are not necessarily those of EU Reporter. Please see EU Reporter’s full Terms and Conditions of publication for more information EU Reporter embraces artificial intelligence as a tool to enhance journalistic quality, efficiency, and accessibility, while maintaining strict human editorial oversight, ethical standards, and transparency in all AI-assisted content. Please see EU Reporter’s full A.I. Policy for more information.

Trending