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Iran to break uranium stockpile limit set by nuclear deal Iran to break uranium stockpile limit set by nuclear deal
(32 minutes later)
Iran will break the uranium stockpile limit set by the nuclear deal with world powers in the next 10 days, the spokesman for the country’s atomic agency has said, warning that Tehran could enrich uranium up to 20%, just a step away from weapons-grade levels.Iran will break the uranium stockpile limit set by the nuclear deal with world powers in the next 10 days, the spokesman for the country’s atomic agency has said, warning that Tehran could enrich uranium up to 20%, just a step away from weapons-grade levels.
The announcement by Behrouz Kamalvandi, timed before a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, puts more pressure on Europe to come up with new terms for Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal. The announcement by Behrouz Kamalvandi before a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels puts more pressure on Europe to come up with new terms for Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal.
The deal has unraveled since the Trump administration pulled the US out of the accord last year and reimposed tough economic sanctions on Iran, deeply cutting into its sale of crude oil abroad and sending its economy into freefall. Europe has been unable to offer Iran a way around the US sanctions. The deal has unraveled since the Trump administration pulled the US out of the accord last year and reimposed tough economic sanctions on Iran, severely curtailing its sale of crude oil abroad and sending its economy into freefall. Europe has been unable to offer Iran a way around the US sanctions.
The development comes after apparent attacks on oil tankers last week in the Gulf of Oman, assaults that Washington has blamed on Iran. While Tehran has denied being involved, it has used mines in the past against commercial traffic around the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s crude oil passes. The development comes after apparent attacks on oil tankers last week in the Gulf of Oman, assaults that Washington has blamed on Iran. Tehran has denied being involved, but has used mines in the past against commercial traffic around the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s crude oil passes.
Kamalvandi accused Europeans of “killing time”, adding: “If this condition continues, there will be no deal.” Kamalvandi accused Europeans of “killing time”. “If this condition continues, there will be no deal,” he said.
Under terms of the nuclear agreement, Iran can keep a stockpile of no more than 300kg (660 pounds) of low-enriched uranium. Kamalvandi said given Iran’s recent decision to quadruple its production of low-enriched uranium, it would pass the 300kg limit on 27 July. Under terms of the nuclear agreement, Iran can keep a stockpile of no more than 300kg (660 pounds) of low-enriched uranium. Kamalvandi said given Tehran’s recent decision to quadruple its production of low-enriched uranium, it would pass the 300kg limit on 27 July.
The United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said last month that Iran still remained within its stockpile limits. The Vienna-based agency declined to comment on Iran’s announcement on Monday. The International Atomic Energy Agency, a UN watchdog, said last month that Iran was still within its stockpile limits. It declined to comment on Iran’s announcement on Monday.
Kamalvandi said Iran needs 5% enrichment for its nuclear power plant in southern Iranian port of Bushehr and 20% enrichment for a Tehran research reactor. Kamalvandi said Iran needed 5% enrichment for its nuclear power plant in the southern Iranian port of Bushehr and 20% enrichment for a Tehran research reactor.
The nuclear deal had limited Iran to enriching uranium only to 3.67%, which is enough for power plants and peaceful purposes. The nuclear deal had limited Iran to enriching uranium to 3.67%, deemed to be enough for power plants and peaceful purposes.
But after the US pullout and escalated sanctions, Tehran set a 7 July deadline for Europe to find better terms for the deal, or it would take additional steps away from the accord, likely seeing it boost enrichment further. After the US pullout and escalated sanctions, Tehran set a 7 July deadline for Europe to find better terms for the deal, or it would take additional steps away from the accord, likely to boost enrichment further.
Kamalvandi reiterated that stance, saying Tehran would increase uranium enrichment levels “based on the country’s needs”. Kamalvandi reiterated that stance, saying Tehran would increase enrichment levels “based on the country’s needs”.
Enriching a supply of uranium means boosting its concentration of the type of uranium that can power a nuclear reaction. That type, or isotope, is called U-235. Enrichment means stripping away atoms of another isotope, called U-238. Enriching a supply of uranium means boosting the concentration of the isotope U-235, which can power a nuclear reaction. It also involves stripping away atoms of U-238.
When uranium is mined, it typically has about 140 atoms of this unwanted isotope for every atom of U-235. Refining it to a purity of 3.67%, the level allowed by the nuclear deal, means removing 114 unwanted atoms of U-238 for every atom of U-235.When uranium is mined, it typically has about 140 atoms of this unwanted isotope for every atom of U-235. Refining it to a purity of 3.67%, the level allowed by the nuclear deal, means removing 114 unwanted atoms of U-238 for every atom of U-235.
Boosting its purity to 20% means removing 22 more unwanted isotopes per atom of U-235, while going from there to 90% purity means removing just four more per atom of U-235, he noted. Ninety per cent is considered weapons-grade material. Boosting its purity to 20% means removing 22 more unwanted isotopes per atom of U-235, and to reach 90% purity involves removing just four more per atom of U-235. Ninety per cent enriched uranium is considered weapons-grade.
That means going from 20% to 90% is a relatively quicker process, something that worries nuclear nonproliferation experts. Iran maintains its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. Iran maintains its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.
Iran reached its nuclear deal with world powers in 2015, agreeing to limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Since Donald Trump took office, the US has steadily stripped away at the accord. The US president pulled out of the deal in May 2018. Iran reached its nuclear deal with world powers in 2015, agreeing to limit its enrichment in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Since Donald Trump took office, the US has steadily stripped away at the accord. The US president pulled out of the deal in May 2018.
Tensions have ratcheted up in the region since May. The US rushed an aircraft carrier strike group and other military assets to the Middle East in response to what it said were threats from Iran. Meanwhile, a series of mysterious attacks have targeted oil tankers, and Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched a series of drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia. Tensions have been rising in the region since May. The US rushed an aircraft carrier strike group and other military assets to the Middle East in response to what it said were threats from Iran. There have been a series of mysterious attacks on oil tankers, and Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia. Riyadh leads a controversial military campaign against the Houthi movement in Yemen.
Kamalvandi spoke to Iranian journalists in a news conference at the country’s Arak heavy water nuclear reactor. Such reactors produce plutonium that can be used in nuclear weapons. Iran, under the nuclear deal, had reconfigured the facility to address western concerns on that issue. Kamalvandi spoke to Iranian journalists at the country’s Arak heavy water nuclear reactor. Such reactors produce plutonium that can be used in nuclear weapons. Under the nuclear deal, Iran had reconfigured the facility to address western concerns on the issue.
However, Kamalvandi said the country could rebuild the facility to make it produce plutonium. He also said Iran would continue to allow the UN to inspect its nuclear facilities. Kamalvandi said the country could rebuild the facility to make it produce plutonium. He also said Iran would continue to allow the UN to inspect its nuclear facilities.
The US alleges Iran used limpet mines to target two tankers last Thursday, pointing to black-and-white footage it captured that American officials describe as an Iranian Revolutionary Guard vessel removing an unexploded mine from the Japanese-operated tanker Kokuka Courageous, one of the two ships that were targeted. The US alleges Iran used limpet mines to target two oil tankers last Thursday, pointing to black-and-white footage that US officials describe as an Iranian Revolutionary Guard vessel removing an unexploded mine from the Japanese-operated tanker Kokuka Courageous, one of the two ships that were targeted.
The Japanese tanker’s owner said its crew described “flying objects” as having targeted the vessel.The Japanese tanker’s owner said its crew described “flying objects” as having targeted the vessel.
In Brussels on Monday, EU foreign ministers said they were still looking for more information on who might be behind the incident involving the tankers. Germany and others insisted they needed a clearer picture before wading into a diplomatic conflict that could have serious implications in the Middle East. In Brussels on Monday, EU foreign ministers said they were still looking for more information on who might be behind the incident. Germany and others insisted they needed a clearer picture before wading into a diplomatic conflict that could have serious implications in the Middle East.
The German foreign minister, Heiko Maas, said US and British intelligence needded to be compared with other information from allies. “We have to be very careful,” he said.The German foreign minister, Heiko Maas, said US and British intelligence needded to be compared with other information from allies. “We have to be very careful,” he said.
The EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said it was not a time to jump to action without proper information. “The maximum restraint and wisdom should be applied,” she said. The EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said it was not a time to jump to conclusions without proper information. “The maximum restraint and wisdom should be applied,” she said.
IranIran
Nuclear powerNuclear power
Middle East and North AfricaMiddle East and North Africa
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