The International Atomic Energy Agency said today (Monday) that Iran has significantly increased its uranium enrichment rate in recent times. The IAEA also stated that it is estimated that within a few weeks Iran will enrich uranium by about 20%.
As you may recall, recently the Majles (Iranian Parliament) and the Supreme Security Council of Iran have confirmed the intention to increase uranium enrichment to the highest rate ever, apparently as a message to Joe Biden, the incoming US President. Biden has repeatedly stated during his campaign that he intends to return to the nuclear deal with Iran and even achieve an “improved nuclear deal.”
The explosion at the Natanz reactor. Photo: Arab networks
It was reported yesterday that a law has been enacted in Iran that seeks to remove atomic energy inspectors from across the country. A spokesman for the Revolutionary Guards said today that Iran did not intend to remove the inspectors – provided the sanctions on it were lifted by February 21.
With the election of Biden, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced that Iran is demanding the removal of all US sanctions from it as a condition for a return to the nuclear deal. The Iranians, for their part, are not interested in drafting a new agreement, and want to return to the agreement signed with them in 2015. Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, also announced that Iran will demand the removal of all sanctions as a condition for returning to the agreement.
The other companies in the original nuclear deal (JCPOA) – Britain, France and Germany – expressed displeasure with Iran’s intention to enrich uranium by 20%. As you may recall, the nuclear deal allows Iran to enrich uranium by a maximum of 3.67%.