Iran has announced plans to begin enriching uranium with thousands of advanced centrifuges at its Fordo and Natanz nuclear facilities, as reported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Friday. The enrichment will be carried out to 5% purity, significantly lower than the current 60% level, indicating a potential willingness to engage in negotiations with the West and the incoming U.S. administration.
The IAEA disclosed that Iran will use new centrifuges including the IR-2M, IR-4, and IR-6 models to enrich uranium. These advanced centrifuges operate faster than Iran's baseline IR-1 centrifuges, enhancing the enrichment process. While the exact number of centrifuges in each cascade remains unspecified, Iran has previously utilized around 160 centrifuges in a single cascade.
Iran's decision comes in the wake of escalating tensions, including threats against Israel and ongoing conflicts in the region. The country's actions follow the U.S.' withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, prompting Iran to pursue nuclear enrichment just below weapons-grade levels. Despite this, U.S. intelligence agencies assess that Iran has not initiated a weapons program.
As a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Iran has committed to allowing IAEA inspections to verify the peaceful nature of its nuclear program. However, concerns have been raised regarding Iran's limited cooperation with inspectors and lack of transparency about certain nuclear sites.
Recent diplomatic efforts have shown a willingness from Iranian officials to engage in negotiations with the West. However, criticisms have been directed at Europe for perceived inaction and irresponsibility in addressing the nuclear issue. Discussions between Iranian and EU diplomats have highlighted the need for a diplomatic solution to the nuclear tensions and the importance of de-escalating regional conflicts.
Iran's decision to enrich uranium with advanced centrifuges underscores the ongoing complexities surrounding its nuclear program and the challenges in achieving diplomatic resolutions amidst heightened tensions in the region.
