Iran fuels centrifuges, resumes uranium enrichment at Fordow
Updated 11:43, 07-Nov-2019
CGTN
00:39

Iran resumed uranium enrichment at its underground Fordow nuclear facility, the country's Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI) said on Thursday, further stepping away from its 2015 nuclear deal with major world powers.

The agreement bans enrichment and nuclear material from Fordow. But with feedstock gas entering its centrifuges, the facility, built inside a mountain, will move from the permitted status of research plant to being an active nuclear site.

"After all successful preparations... injection of uranium gas to centrifuges started on Thursday at Fordow... all the process has been supervised by the inspectors of the UN nuclear watchdog," the AEOI said in a statement reported by Iranian media.

Iran has gradually scaled back its commitments to the deal, under which it curbed its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of most international sanctions, after the United States reneged on the agreement last year.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (R) listens to Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran's nuclear technology organization, during the "nuclear technology day" in Tehran, Iran, April 9, 2019. /VCG Photo

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (R) listens to Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran's nuclear technology organization, during the "nuclear technology day" in Tehran, Iran, April 9, 2019. /VCG Photo

"The process will take a few hours to stabilize and by Saturday, when International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors will again visit the site, a uranium enrichment level of 4.5 percent will have been achieved," AEOI's spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi told state TV.

U.S.: 'Big step in the wrong direction'

The United States, which withdrew from the nuclear deal in May 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Tehran, reiterated a statement from Tuesday, calling Iran's move a "big step in the wrong direction".

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said Tehran had no credible reason to expand its uranium enrichment program and Washington would continue its policy of economic pressure on Iran until it changed its behavior.

Under the pact, Iran agreed to turn Fordow into a "nuclear, physics and technology center" where 1,044 centrifuges are used for purposes other than enrichment, such as producing stable isotopes, which have a variety of civil uses.

"All the centrifuges installed at Fordow are IR1 types. Uranium gas (UF6) was injected to four chains of IR1 centrifuges (696 centrifuges)," Kamalvandi said.

"Two other remaining chains of IR1 centrifuges (348 centrifuges) will be used for producing and enriching stable isotopes in the facility."

In pulling out of the deal, U.S. President Donald Trump said it was flawed to Iran's advantage. Washington has since renewed and intensified sanctions on Iran, slashing the country's economically vital crude oil sales by more than 80 percent.

China: 'Negotiation is the only solution'

The Chinese Foreign Ministry attributed Iran's move to a "maximum pressure" policy from the U.S. The ministry reiterated China's opposition against unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction. China hopes all sides can practice restraint and fully implement the nuclear deal, said spokesperson Geng Shuang at a regular press conference on Tuesday.

Geng urged the U.S. to drop its current policy toward Iran, and solve disputes through consultation and dialogue under the framework of the nuclear deal.

Geng stressed that negotiation is the only solution, calling on all sides to meet each other halfway. "China is ready to work with all sides to sustain regional peace and stability," he added.

Read more about world powers' reactions:

Iran starts injecting uranium gas into centrifuges at Fordow

Speaking at a news conference at the end of a visit to China, French President Emmanuel Macron called Iran's latest move "grave," adding that he would speak with both Trump and the Iranians in coming days.

Responding to Washington's "maximum pressure" policy, Iran has bypassed restrictions of the deal step by step, breaching both its cap on stockpiled enriched uranium and on the fissile level of enrichment.

Iran said on Monday it was developing advanced centrifuges that can enrich uranium faster.

The biggest obstacle to building a nuclear weapon is obtaining enough fissile material – highly enriched uranium or plutonium – for the core of a bomb. A central aim of the deal was to extend the time Iran would need to do that, if it chose to, to a year from about 2 to 3 months.

(With input from Reuters)