Politics
21:09, 13-Jun-2018
Iran to resume uranium enrichment at Fordow if nuke deal collapses: spokesman
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Iran will resume enriching uranium at its Fordow nuclear site if the Iranian nuclear deal collapses, spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said on Thursday.
Behrouz Kamalvandi said the enrichment activities at Fordow nuclear facility will be restored at the discretion of senior Iranian officials in case the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), falls apart, according to Iran's Tasnim news agency.
Prior to the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the six world powers, the underground bunker of Fordow in central Iran was used for 20-percent uranium enrichment.
Jan. 20, 2014: Unidentified International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors (2nd-3rd L) and Iranian technicians disconnect the connections between the twin cascades for 20 percent uranium production at a nuclear power plant in Natanz, south of Tehran, as Iran halted production of 20 percent enriched uranium, marking the coming into force of an interim deal with world powers on its disputed nuclear program. /VCG Photo
Jan. 20, 2014: Unidentified International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors (2nd-3rd L) and Iranian technicians disconnect the connections between the twin cascades for 20 percent uranium production at a nuclear power plant in Natanz, south of Tehran, as Iran halted production of 20 percent enriched uranium, marking the coming into force of an interim deal with world powers on its disputed nuclear program. /VCG Photo
Based on the deal, the Islamic republic stopped enrichment activities in Fordow and turned it into a research center.
Last week, AEOI Chief Ali Akbar Salehi said Tehran has already developed the necessary infrastructure at the Natanz nuclear facility for the enrichment of uranium at the capacity of one million SWU (Separative Work Unit).
Iran is currently holding talks with European Union to protect the JCPOA against the US administration's threats.
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Meanwhile, Tehran Times cited Business Standard's report as saying that on Tuesday, European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini promised that the EU will continue supporting the JCPOA on the simple pragmatic reason that "there is no better alternative."
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Mogherini said it is essential for the EU’s security and for the security in the region to continue implementing the agreement, and the EU would guarantee this, regardless of the US withdrawal.
(Cover photo: October 26, 2010: A general view of Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant /Reuters Photo)
(With input from Xinhua)