The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI) has said that Iran plans to quadruple the production of low-level enriched uranium and will reach the maximum permissible limit of 300 kgs. of the stockpile allowed under the nuclear deal, very soon.
The AOEI Spokesperson – Behrouz Kamalvandi, said, “We will go further from that ceiling, not only that but we will also increase production drastically. After we pass the limit of 300kg the pace and the speed of enriched uranium production at the lower rate will also increase.”
Iran started non-compliance to some elements of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in May 2019, a year after the United States (U.S.) unilaterally withdrew from the deal.
What was the agreement?
JCPOA, also known as Iran nuclear deal or Iran deal, is an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program reached in Vienna on July 14, 2015, between Iran, the P5+1 (the 5 permanent members of the United Nations Security Council—China, France, Russia, U.K., U.S. —plus Germany) and European Union (E.U.).
As per the agreement, Iran agreed to eliminate its stockpile of medium-enriched uranium, cut its stockpile of low-enriched uranium by 98%, and reduce by about 2/3rd the number of its gas centrifuges for 13 years. For the next 15 years Iran will only enrich uranium up to 3.67%. Iran also agreed not to build any new heavy-water facilities during the same period.
Besides, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will have access to Iran’s nuclear facilities and will continuously monitor and verify Iran’s compliance with the agreement. The agreement also said that in return, Iran will get relief from U.S., European Union, and UNSC nuclear-related sanctions.
Present Scenario
The President of Iran – Hassan Rouhani had said on May 8, 2019 that remaining P5+1 nations – U.K., China, Russia, France and Germany, have 60 days to fulfil their promise of protecting Iran’s oil and banking sectors from U.S. sanctions. In case the P5+1 nations fail to do so; Iran will consider leaving the nuclear Non – Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
In the meantime, IAEA has notified that Iran has already accelerated the production on enriched uranium. Reacting to IAEA’s notification, Iran said that 300 kgs. of stockpile of enriched uranium is within thee permissible limits, as per the JCPOA.
