Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Facility / Tasnim News Agency, CC BY 4.0
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
TEHRAN/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Iran warned Friday it is launching “new and advanced” centrifuges to rapidly enrich uranium because the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog censured the Islamic Republic for failing to cooperate fully with the agency’s monitoring and inspection.
The censure resolution adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) late Thursday could lead to penalties against Iran, including more economic sanctions.
The IAEA also told Tehran to provide answers in a long-running investigation into uranium particles found at two locations that Tehran did not declare as nuclear sites as required under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
Sources familiar with the closed-door vote in Vienna, Austria, said the agency’s Board of Governors voted 19 to 3, with 12 abstentions, for the censure, despite intensive lobbying by Iran and its foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi.
He reportedly urged officials of countries on the board, including Algeria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Pakistan, and South Africa, to oppose the resolution by Britain, France, Germany, and the United States.
The three votes against were cast by Russia, China, and Burkina Faso, Worthy News learned.
POWERFUL MACHINES
Soon after Thursday’s vote, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and the Iranian foreign ministry condemned the passing of the resolution.
They said Iran’s nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami “issued orders” to launch new and advanced centrifuges, powerful machines that spin rapidly to enrich uranium, despite global concern.
“The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran issued an order to take effective measures, including launching a significant series of new and advanced centrifuges of various types,” said the organization, and Iran’s foreign ministry issued a statement.
It added, however, that “technical and safeguards cooperation with the IAEA will continue, as in the past” and within the framework of agreements made by Iran.
However, Israel and its allies have expressed concern that Iran is close to having one or more nuclear weapons that could further destabilize the Middle East.
A confidential report leaked earlier this week suggested that Iran defied international demands to rein in its nuclear program and increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.
MANY KILOGRAMS
That report said that as of October 26, Iran had accumulated 182.3 kilograms (401.9 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60 percent, an increase of 17.6 kilograms (38.8 pounds) since the last IAEA report in August.
Uranium enriched at 60 percent purity is just a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90 percent.
The latest standoff comes at a critical time, ahead of Donald J. Trump’s return to the White House.
Trump’s first term in office was marked by a tense period with Iran, as the U.S. president pursued a policy of “maximum pressure” against Tehran.
In 2018, Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers andimposed even harsher sanctions that weakened Iran’s economy further.
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