The Islamic Republic revealed to the United Nations nuclear watchdog that it will soon be enriching uranium at 20%, which once again violates the terms of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
In further violation of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or Iran Nuclear Deal, the Iranians have announced that they will reinstall uranium enrichment inside their underground Fordo nuclear facility at 20%. This drastically exceeds the limit set by the JCPOA, which is 3.67% and is unquestionably Iran’s largest violation of the agreement to date.
A spokesman for the Republic, Ali Rabiei, stated, “A few hours ago the process to inject the gas began and the first UF6 enriched uranium product will be reached in a few more hours.” And while 20% is a significant jump from 3.67%, weapons-grade enriched uranium purity is said to be 90%.
The Islamic Republic shared its plans with the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), who said, “Iran today began feeding uranium already enriched up to 4.1% U-235 into six centrifuge cascades at the Fordo Fuel Enrichment Plant for further enrichment up to 20%.”
However, this doesn’t come as much of a surprise in the big picture considering the increase of hostility between Iran and the US. Following the US decision to withdraw from the JCPOA back in 2018 in addition to the White House’s ‘maximum pressure campaign’, the Iranian regime has carried out several violations of the deal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to this move emphasising that Iran has a plot to “develop a nuclear program,” and that Israel will not sit idly by and allow them to do so.
