Iran has begun producing uranium ore, despite warnings from world powers that this is another violation of the 2015 nuclear deal.
International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors confirmed 3.6g (0.1oz) of the substance at a facility in Isfahan last week.
Iran Claims It To Be A Part Of R&D
Iran claims to be conducting research and development with the aim of producing fuel for research equipment.
But uranium can also be used to make a nuclear bomb.
Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful, but has rolled back on many of its obligations under the nuclear deal two years ago.
It says it is retaliating for the US economic sanctions that were reinstated in 2018 by then President Donald Trump when he abandoned the accord.
His successor, Joe Biden, says Iran must return to full compliance before lifting sanctions. However, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says the United States must take the initiative.
Under the agreement, Iran has agreed not to produce uranium ore or to have researched and developed uranium metallurgy for 15 years.
IAEA’s Statement
On Wednesday evening, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said its Director-General had informed member states of “recent developments regarding Iran’s R&D activities in the production of uranium ore as part of its planned Tehran Research Reactor”.
“The agency on February 8 confirmed 3.6g of uranium ore at the Fuel Plate Fabrication Plant (FPFP) of Iran in Isfahan,” the community said.
Last month, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said it had begun R&D activities with the aim of of producing an advanced fuel called silicide for the Tehran Research Reactor, which is devoted mainly to making radioisotopes for medical purposes.
The AEOI stressed that uranium metal had peaceful uses, and that it was not violating the global Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
International Reaction
The UK, France and Germany – three of the five countries that have already participated in the nuclear deal – have said they are “deeply concerned” about the declaration. “Iran does not have a reliable citizen use of uranium ore. The production of uranium ore could have serious military consequences,” they warned.
In December, Iran’s parliament passed a law requiring the government to bring the metallic uranium factory at the Isfahan Fuel Plate Fabrication Plant on line within five months.
Hardline MPs tabled the legislation following the assassination in late November of the country’s top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, which Iranian leaders blamed on Israel.
The law also says that if US sanctions are not lifted the government must step up uranium enrichment, operate advanced uranium enrichment centrifuges, stop implementing an agreement that allows inspectors to visit nuclear facilities at short notice, and build a new heavy-water reactor.
Iran has already resumed enriching uranium to 20% purity – far above the level of 3.67% permitted under the nuclear deal – and begun using a number of advanced centrifuges. Uranium with 20% purity can be used in research reactors, while weapons-grade uranium is 90% or more.
When asked about the latest Iranian breach on Wednesday, US state department spokesman Ned Price told reporters: “We continue to urge Tehran to resume full compliance with the [nuclear deal].
