IRAN SAYS IT’S ENRICHING URANIUM AT 60% PURITY AT FORDO NUCLEAR PLANT
TEHRAN/GENEVA: Iran has begun enriching uranium at 60% purity at the country’s underground Fordo nuclear plant, official media reported on Tuesday, describing it as a response to a resolution by the UN’s nuclear watchdog.
The increased enrichment, reported by the official news agency IRNA, was seen as a significant addition to the country’s nuclear programme.
Enrichment to 60% purity is one short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. Non-proliferation experts have warned in recent months that Iran now has enough 60%-enriched uranium to reprocess into fuel for at least one nuclear bomb.
Iran is already enriching to 60% purity at its Natanz nuclear facility in central Iran. Fordo is some 100km south of the capital of Tehran.
IRNA did not give details on the amount of the enriched uranium being produced.