[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] It has been reported that Iran has notified the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its plan to install additional advanced centrifuges that were not mentioned in the nuclear agreement (JCPOA·Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action).
According to a confidential IAEA report reported by foreign media on the 4th local time, Iran informed the IAEA in a letter dated December 2 that it plans to add three more cascades (a method of connecting centrifuges in series) of the advanced centrifuge IR-2m at the underground Natanz nuclear facility.
The IR-2m is an advanced centrifuge that Iran had suspended operation of under the nuclear agreement. Iran is allowed to possess up to 5,060 units of the initial model centrifuge IR-1 and can only enrich uranium using these.
Previously, in response to former U.S. President Donald Trump's withdrawal from the nuclear agreement in 2018, Iran has gradually reduced its compliance with the provisions of the nuclear agreement related to uranium enrichment levels and operation of new centrifuges. According to an IAEA report released last month, Iran has stockpiled 2.4 tons of enriched uranium, which is 12 times the maximum amount allowed under the nuclear agreement.
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