Fordow nuke site restart ‘completed’

DUBAI: Iran has started to inject uranium gas into centrifuges at its underground Fordow nuclear facility, state TV reported yesterday, as it progressively scales back its commitments to the nuclear deal it agreed with major powers in 2015.

The deal bans nuclear material from Fordow and, with the injection of uranium gas into its centrifuges, the facility will move from its permitted status of research plant to become an active nuclear site.

“With the presence of inspectors from International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran started injecting [uranium] gas into centrifuges in Fordow,” TV reported.

Iran agreed in 2015 to turn Fordow into a “nuclear, physics and technology centre” where 1,044 centrifuges are used for purposes other than enrichment, such as producing stable isotopes, which have a variety of civil uses.

Since the United States pulled out of the nuclear deal last year and reimposed sanctions on Iran, Tehran has gradually rolled back its nuclear commitments.

“Iran has taken its fourth step to decrease its nuclear commitments to the deal in reaction to the increased US pressure and inactivity of European parties to the deal to save it,” state TV added.

UN nuclear inspectors are also on the ground in Iran and will report back on relevant activities, an International Atomic Energy Agency spokesman said yesterday after Iran said it injected uranium gas into centrifuges at its Fordow site.

“We are aware of the media reports today related to Fordow. Agency inspectors are on the ground in Iran and they will report any relevant activities to IAEA headquarters in Vienna,” the spokesman said in a statement.