Iran starts enriching uranium to 60 per cent purity, a step closer to weapons-grade levels
- Enrichment to 60 per cent purity is one short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent
- Move is in retaliation to resolution by IAEA ordering Iran to cooperate with an investigation into origin of uranium particles found at 3 undeclared sites
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was confirming Iranian reports of Tehran’s step, taken in retaliation for the agency’s criticism of Iran in a board of governors resolution last week.
While Iran is already enriching uranium up to 60 per cent purity elsewhere, its decision to do so at Fordow is likely to be viewed by Western nations as particularly provocative because the site is buried under a mountain, making it harder to attack.
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Enrichment to 60 per cent purity is one short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent. Non-proliferation experts have warned in recent months that Iran now has enough 60 per cent-enriched uranium to reprocess into fuel for at least one nuclear bomb.
A 2015 agreement with major powers capped Iran’s nuclear enrichment at 3.67 per cent.
The latest move is in retaliation to last week’s resolution by the IAEA’s 35-nation Board of Governors ordering Iran to cooperate with the agency’s years-long investigation into the origin of uranium particles found at three undeclared sites.
“Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi today said Iran had started producing high enriched uranium – UF6 (uranium hexafluoride) enriched up to 60 per cent – using the existing two cascades of IR-6 centrifuges in the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, in addition to such production that has taken place at Natanz since April 2021,” the agency said in a statement.
It was summarising a confidential report to IAEA member states seen by Reuters on various moves taken and planned by Iran at enrichment plants at Fordow and Natanz.