Iran claims nuclear program peaceful
Iran has stressed its nuclear activities are peaceful and conform to safeguard obligations, after the UN nuclear watchdog said it has established a process to accelerate production of highly enriched uranium.
International Atomic Energy Agency director Rafael Grossi informed IAEA member states that Iran was boosting such capacity at its Natanz enrichment plant.
“All of (Iran’s) nuclear programs and actions are in complete compliance with the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty), Iran’s safeguards commitments, under IAEA supervision and previously announced,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said.
The UN agency verified on Saturday that “Iran had configured a new operational mode for the production of UF6 enriched up to 60 percent U-235,” Grossi said.
This involved using two centrifuge cascades compared with one previously, he added.
Iran had started in mid-April to enrich uranium to 60 percent.
The country has gradually rolled back its nuclear commitments since 2019, a year after then US
President Donald Trump withdrew from a multilateral nuclear deal and began imposing sanctions.
The 2015 deal known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, gave Iran relief from sanctions in return for curbs on its nuclear program.
Iran “will pursue its peaceful nuclear program based on its needs, sovereign decisions and within safeguard obligations’ framework until the full and unconditional implementation of the JCPOA by America and other parties,” Khatibzadeh said.
Six rounds of nuclear talks between Iran and world powers — with the US indirectly taking part — were held in Vienna between April and June in an attempt to revive the accord. The last round concluded on June 20, with no date set for another.
Earlier, the US voiced alarm over Iranian move as it urged the clerical state to return to talks.
The State Department said the US has seen the latest report and believed that Iran “has no credible need” to produce uranium metal.
“We have made clear that continued nuclear escalations beyond JCPOA limits are unconstructive and inconsistent with a return to mutual compliance,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said. “Iran should cease its nuclear escalations and return to negotiations toward full implementation of the JCPOA in good faith.”
President Joe Biden favors a return to the deal, believing it peacefully manages a major concern with Iran, but indirect talks in Vienna brokered by the Europeans made no breakthrough with the US administration refusing to lift sanctions unrelated to the nuclear issue.