Iran to enrich uranium to highest ever level of 60%

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A number of new-generation Iranian centrifuges are seen on display during Iran's National Nuclear Energy Day in Tehran, Iran, April 10, 2021. /Reuters

Iran said it will begin enriching uranium to its highest ever level of 60 percent in purity starting Wednesday, local media reported on Tuesday.

The announcement came soon after an attack on one of its nuclear sites and before the resumption of talks in Vienna aimed at reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal with major powers, which former U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out three years ago.

Under the 2015 deal, Iran had committed to keep enrichment to 3.67 percent, though it had stepped this up to 20 percent and kept on enriching uranium with new centrifuges.

IAEA: Iran enriching uranium with new centrifuge at underground plant

Enriching uranium to 60 percent from Iran's current 20 percent would bring the fissile material closer to the 90 percent required to make a nuclear bomb.

Making the announcement, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi said Iran would activate 1,000 advanced centrifuge machines at Natanz, a nuclear plant hit by an explosion on Sunday that Tehran called an act of sabotage by Israel.

The International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN nuclear watchdog, said it had been informed of Iran's decision.

In Washington, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki called Iran's announcement "provocative" and said U.S. President Joe Biden's administration was concerned, adding that it called into question Tehran's seriousness on nuclear talks.

The meeting of the JCPOA parties resumes in the Grand Hotel Wien, Vienna, Austria, April 6, 2021. /CMG

Last week, Iran and the global powers held what they described as "constructive" talks to salvage the 2015 accord, which has unraveled as Iran has breached its limits on uranium enrichment since Trump withdrew America from the deal and re-imposed harsh sanctions on Tehran.

Biden has said Iran must resume full compliance with curbs on its enrichment activity mandated by the deal, which won the lifting of all international sanctions against Tehran, before Washington can rejoin the pact. However, Tehran has repeatedly stressed Iran will not comply with the deal unless the U.S. first lifts all its unilateral sanctions.

The nuclear talks are due to resume on Thursday in Vienna.

(With input from Reuters)

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