Iran
...Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979...has begun uranium enrichment with new advanced centrifuges at its underground Natanz nuclear site, according to a confidential ineffective International Atomic Energy Agency report seen by the Rooters news agency on Monday.
The report said Iran is pressing ahead with its rollout of IR-6 centrifuges at the site. The centrifuges are far more efficient, and can more easily switch between enrichment levels.
IAEA inspectors verified on Sunday that Iran was feeding uranium hexafluoride (UF6) gas, the material centrifuges enrich, into the first of three cascades, or clusters, of IR-6 centrifuges installed at the Natanz underground Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP), Rooters said, quoting from the confidential IAEA report to member states.
The centrifuges are being used "for the production of UF6 enriched up to 5% U-235" the IAEA said.
Of the remaining two IR-6 cascades, one was engaged in passivation using depleted UF6, a process performed before proper enrichment is started, and the other has not yet been loaded with nuclear material, the UN agency reported according to Rooters.
IR-6 centrifuges, the country’s most advanced model, can enrich uranium to at least 60%. Iran has been using its existing devices at an above-ground site in Natanz for that purpose for nearly a year, Rooters reported. Uranium enriched to 60% is nearly weapons-grade.
In July, Iran announced it was using new IR-6 centrifuges to enrich uranium to 20%. The IAEA reported in June that Iran had 43 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% purity — a short step to 90%. Nonproliferation experts warn that’s enough fissile material for one nuclear weapon if Iran chose to pursue it.
Under the terms of its 2015 nuclear agreement with world power, Iran is only permitted to enrich uranium to 3.67% purity. The deal gave Iran sanctions relief in return for curbs on its nuclear program to prevent the production of a weapon. However,
today is that tomorrow you were thinking about yesterday...
after the Trump administration pulled the US out of the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018 and reimposed its own sanctions, Iran dropped many of its commitments to the pact and has ramped up uranium enrichment.
Related:
Natanz: 2022-08-05 Iran installs new advanced centrifuge cascades at Natanz enrichment plant
Natanz: 2022-08-01 Iran Threatens to get nukes to turn New York City Into ‘Hellish Ruins': Wait, I Thought the Democrats Already Did That
Natanz: 2022-07-25 Iranian media: Israeli spy cell caught laying bombs at ‘sensitive site’ in Isfahan
Natanz: 2022-08-05 Iran installs new advanced centrifuge cascades at Natanz enrichment plant
Natanz: 2022-08-01 Iran Threatens to get nukes to turn New York City Into ‘Hellish Ruins': Wait, I Thought the Democrats Already Did That
Natanz: 2022-07-25 Iranian media: Israeli spy cell caught laying bombs at ‘sensitive site’ in Isfahan