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Iran has signaled that it intends to start enriching uranium up to 20% purity, in its most significant breach of the 2015 nuclear deal yet.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Iran had informed it of plans to improve enrichment at its Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, 20 miles northeast of the city of Qom.
In a statement, the agency said: “Iran has informed the agency that in order to comply with a legal act recently approved by the country’s parliament, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran intends to produce low enriched uranium (LEU) up to 20% in the Fordow fuel enrichment plant. “
The IAEA did not say when Iran plans to push enrichment, but its inspectors are in the country and have regular access to Fordow.
The enrichment plant is about the size of a football field, protected by mountains and protected by anti-aircraft guns.
Under the 2015 nuclear deal, no enrichment will take place there and it was supposed to have been turned into a research and development site.
The agreement also set other conditions, including a 3.67% limit on the purity to which Iran can enrich uranium.
It has risen to 4.5% so far, well below the 20% it achieved before the deal and the 90% that is gun-safe.
The Iranians began violating the agreement after US President Donald Trump withdrew his country in 2018, leaving only the other signatories: Iran, the European Union and the other permanent members of the UN Security Council. .
Joe Biden has promised to rejoin the deal when he takes over from Trump later this month, but Iran’s new violation will make this more difficult for him.
Iran’s move is also believed to be aimed at pressuring Europe to ease sanctions, something that was meant to happen in exchange for Iran’s compliance with the deal.
However, the United States reimposed sanctions after its withdrawal.
Experts say Iran has enough low-enriched uranium for at least two nuclear weapons, although Iran has always said that its nuclear program is peaceful.
