The DA’s nuclear watchdog says it has confirmed it is producing 3.6g of uranium metal at a plant in Iran.
France and Russia have urged Iran to unveil a blockade after it began exporting uranium metal in a new breach of borders outlined in Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers.
The warnings came after the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it had determined that 3.6g of uranium metal was detected at a plant in Iran.
“In order to retain the political space to find a negotiated solution, we urge Iran not to take new steps that would exacerbate the nuclear situation, which is already a matter of great concern as a result of what has happened. break of Vienna Bar, including the most recent reported by the IAEA, ”French foreign ministry spokeswoman Agnes von der Muhll said Thursday.
Earlier, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov urged Tehran to show restraint.
“We understand the logic of their actions and the reasons that motivate Iran. Despite this, prevention and an accountable approach must be demonstrated, ”he told state news agency RIA Novosti.
The IAEA said in a statement on Wednesday that Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi briefed its member states “on recent developments in Iran’s R&D activity on uranium metal production as part of the stated goal of achieving fuel. for Tehran Research Reactor “.
An IAEA report, seen by Reuters news agency, and another, said Iran planned to explore uranium metal using natural uranium before moving on to 20 percent enriched uranium metal, the rate that is it enriches uranium so far, short of the 90 percent weapon level.
“The Group tested on 8 February 3.6 grams of uranium metal at the Iran Fuel Plate Construction Center (FPFP) in Esfahan,” an IAEA statement said.
Iran’s landmark treaty – reached in 2015 by the United States, China, Russia, Germany, France, Britain and the European Union – contained a 15-year ban on “making or failing to” get plutonium or uranium metals or their alloys ”.
Iran said last month that it was investigating the production of uranium metal, a sensitive issue because uranium metal can be used as part of a nuclear weapon.
Ryabkov said Iran’s move showed “Tehran’s determination not to put up with the current situation” after warning that time was running out for US President Joe Biden’s administration to save the agreement.
In 2018, US President Donald Trump drastically withdrew from Iran’s nuclear deal and lifted tough economic sanctions on Tehran.
Trump fan Biden is trying to revive the agreement, but both sides appear to be in a standoff over who will work first.
Sanctions remain
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Thursday said he was disappointed with Biden so far, due to a lack of progress on U.S. nuclear policy and sanctions.
“We have not seen any good intentions from the new government yet,” Rouhani told state television.
He urged Biden to immediately reverse Trump’s biggest pressure policy and end “criminal” economic sanctions against Iran.
Rouhani has expressed several times that he wants to avoid further reduction of the issue but also oppose the collapse of Iran’s economy, crushed by the sanctions.
Iran has taken the United States until February 21 to lift the sanctions, after which Tehran says it would go to other means, for example restricting investigations by the IAEA.