The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Tuesday that Iran is also planning a massive expansion of its enrichment capacity. Iran said earlier on Tuesday that it had begun enriching uranium to 60 percent at the Fordo site, having already done so at its above-ground pilot plant in Natanz for more than a year. Increased enrichment was seen as an important addition to its nuclear program. Enrichment to 60% purity is a short technical step away from weapons grade 90%. Non-proliferation experts have warned in recent months that Iran has enough 60% enriched uranium to reprocess it into fuel for at least one nuclear bomb. Iran has always denied any ambition to develop a nuclear bomb, insisting that its nuclear activities are for civilian purposes. Satellite images show Iran’s Fordo plant where it has begun producing uranium enriched to 60%. Photo: Satellite Image ©2021 Maxar Tech/AFP/Getty Images The move was part of Iran’s response to the U.N. nuclear inspectorate’s adoption last week of a resolution of censure drawn up by Western governments accusing it of non-cooperation. It also comes as talks have stalled to revive a landmark 2015 deal that curbed Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. The deal began to falter in 2018 when the US pulled out and reimposed sanctions. In response, Iran began ramping up its nuclear program. A joint statement from Germany, France and Britain – the three Western European countries that remain in the Iran nuclear deal – condemned Iran’s latest move to further expand its nuclear program. “Iran’s step is a challenge to the global non-proliferation system,” the statement said on Tuesday. “This step, which carries significant proliferation-related risks, has no credible political justification.” This month, the IAEA said it believed Iran had further increased its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Just last week, the agency criticized Tehran for continuing to bar its officials from accessing or monitoring Iranian nuclear facilities. A separate report said IAEA director-general Rafael Grossi was “gravely concerned” that Iran had not yet addressed the agency’s investigation into man-made uranium particles found at three undeclared sites. The issue has become a key sticking point in talks on a renewed nuclear deal. It has been nearly two years since IAEA officials had full access to monitor Iran’s nuclear facilities, and five months since IAEA surveillance equipment was removed. Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report
