Iran stops commitment to heavy water and uranium enrichment under the nuclear deal; Iranian president: We felt that the nuclear deal needs a surgery and the painkiller pills of the last year have been ineffective.
An official from the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran confirmed on Wednesday that it has officially begun to stop some of its obligations under the nuclear deal, specifically its heavy water production and uranium enrichment, at both the Natanz and Arak plants. Iran warned it would suspend commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, nuclear deal) with world powers until a solution was provided for its banking and oil sectors, both of which have been crumbling under US sanctions.
The official was quoted reporting to Iran’s ISNA media network that “The country has begun to stop implementing some of its obligations under the JCPOA. Stopping programs related to compliance with the ceiling for production of enriched uranium as well as the unlimited production of heavy water at the Arak facility are programs seriously pursued as stressed during the first 60-day period related to Iran’s first step in response to the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal.”
He reported that journalists would be permitted to visit the sites in “order to inform the public of the measures adopted.”
Last week, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani gave JCPOA sponsors a 60-day deadline to come up with solutions for its economic crisis caused by the United States. He claimed “We felt that the nuclear deal needs a surgery and the painkiller pills of the last year have been ineffective. This surgery is for saving the deal, not destroying it.” The EU and signatories have all expressed their continued commitment to the nuclear deal despite the violations and threats from the Islamic Republic.
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