The Islamic Republic of Iran informed the UN nuclear watchdog of its plans to install numerous centrifuges underground soon; Such a move further violates the agreement set in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The Islamic Republic of Iran informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its intention to install more centrifuges in an underground facility. In doing so, Iran will further violate the terms of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or Iran Nuclear Deal.

Iran told the IAEA that they would be installing three more groups of advanced IR-2m centrifuges at their underground facility in Natanz, which is located three hours south of Tehran. The IAEA stated in its report, “In a letter dated 2 December 2020, Iran informed the Agency that the operator of the Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP) at Natanz ‘intends to start installation of three cascades of IR-2m centrifuge machines’ at FEP.”

This particular facility in Natanz is reported to have been designed to protect Iranian interests from airstrikes.

Ever since the 2018 withdrawal from the JCPOA by the White House, the Iranians have been far more transparent in their violations of the terms of the deal.