IAEA: "Iran Enriching Uranium with New Centrifuges"... Further Violation of Nuclear Deal

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reportedly submitted a report to its member states stating that Iran has begun uranium enrichment using advanced centrifuges. These centrifuges are models prohibited from uranium enrichment under the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), and it is interpreted that Iran has presented this as an additional negotiation card to pressure the United States and other Western countries.

According to foreign media including the Times of Israel on the 16th (local time), the IAEA submitted a report to member states the previous day stating that Iran has started uranium enrichment using the advanced IR-4 centrifuge. The report reportedly stated that "Iran is using 30 IR-1 units (5,060 machines), 3 IR-2m units (522 machines), and 1 IR-4 unit (174 machines) for uranium enrichment," and that "Iran aims to enrich uranium-235 up to a 5% concentration," according to major foreign media.

The IR-4 and IR-2m centrifuge models are known to be prohibited from uranium enrichment under the JCPOA. According to the nuclear deal, Iran is only allowed to mechanically test these models for research and development (R&D) purposes until January 2026. These advanced centrifuges are known to have faster enrichment speeds compared to the IR-1 model, which is permitted to enrich uranium up to a 3.67% concentration under the JCPOA.

Earlier this month, the IAEA also reported that Iran was conducting uranium enrichment activities using another advanced centrifuge, the IR-2m model. Iran’s gradual increase in JCPOA violations by showcasing its uranium enrichment capabilities is interpreted as a strategy to pressure the United States and Western countries to gain leverage in negotiations.

However, negotiations on the nuclear deal have made little progress. The Biden administration has expressed willingness to return to the JCPOA but insists that Iran must fully comply with its obligations under the deal before the U.S. can rejoin. Meanwhile, Iran continues to engage in a standoff, stating that it will comply with the JCPOA only after the U.S. lifts the economic sanctions against Iran that were reinstated by the Trump administration in accordance with the deal.