Iran to hike uranium enrichment capacity

Netanyahu heads for Europe, seeking tougher line on Teheran

TEHERAN — Iran notified the International Atomic Energy Agency that it has launched a plan to increase its uranium enrichment capacity, nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi said on Tuesday.

“A letter was submitted to the agency yesterday regarding the start of certain activities,” said Salehi, a vicepresident and head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization.

“If conditions allow, maybe tomorrow night at Natanz, we can announce the opening of the center for production of new centrifuges” for uranium enrichment, he said, quoted by conservative news agency Fars.

Based on the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran can enrich uranium up to the level of 3.5 percent, which represents low-enriched uranium.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday he had ordered preparations to increase uranium enrichment capacity if a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers falls apart after the US withdrawal from it last month.

“It seems ... that some European governments expect the Iranian nation to both put up with sanctions and give up its nuclear activities,” said Khamenei.

“I tell those (European) governments that this bad dream will never come true.”

Khamenei said Iran would not tolerate sanctions on one hand and undergo “nuclear austerity” on the other.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has embarked on a threeday European tour in Germany set to be dominated by strategic differences on Iran, as leaders attempt to rescue the nuclear deal after the US withdrawal.

With partners in Berlin, Paris and London still reeling from US President Donald Trump’s decision last month to exit the hard-fought accord, Netanyahu was expected to seek European cooperation on a still-to-be-determined Plan B.

“I will meet with three leaders and I will raise two issues there: Iran and Iran,” Netanyahu said as he left Israel, calling for “increased pressure” on Teheran over its nuclear program.

“It could be that there is not full agreement on this at the moment but in my opinion, such an understanding will take shape,” he said.

Germany, France and Britain are three of the signatories of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action between world powers and Iran, aimed at keeping Teheran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Iran has denied claims that it was seeking nuclear weapons, and the United Nations said it had met its obligations under the 2015 nuclear accord with world powers, which requires it to curb its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions.

Fulfilling obligations

Last month, in its first report since the US withdrawal, the IAEA said Iran continues to stay below the maximum level of uranium — the deal allows it to enrich.

The agency’s report also said Iran appears to be fulfilling other obligations, but is slow when it comes to “complementary access” inspections.

Netanyahu, who has railed against the deal, held talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Monday. Merkel reiterated her view that the nuclear agreement was the best way to prevent Iran from developing atomic weapons.

Netanyahu will continue on to Paris for meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday and British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday.

Macron’s office said France will insist on having a dialogue with Iran.