Tehran to drop further nuclear deal commitments: Tasnim
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iran will announce plans on Monday to further scale back its commitments to the 2015 nuclear deal, Tasnim reported Sunday, including an unlimited rise in its stockpile of enriched uranium.
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) will outline its plans on Monday at a showpiece event at Iran’s heavy water nuclear facility in Arak, Markazi Province, according to Tasnim, a media outlet with close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Iran has already scaled back on some of its commitments to the landmark Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in response to the US withdrawal from the deal and the reintroduction of economic sanctions.
In mid-May, Iran announced it would scrap two of its commitments dealing with the shipment of enriched uranium and heavy water.
US President Donald Trump ended two critical waivers in early May that allowed Iran to ship enriched uranium in excess of 300kg and send surplus heavy water exceeding 130 metric tonnes to Oman.
Pressuring the JCPOA’s remaining European signatories to act in defense of the accord, Iran said it would continue producing low enriched uranium and heavy water in excess of the amount permitted under the deal.
The Arak facility is now producing an unlimited supply of heavy water, Tasnim said.
On May 20, the AEOI announced plans to quadruple its production capacity of enriched uranium to 3.67 percent – within the limits of the 2015 nuclear deal and well below the quality needed to develop nuclear weapons – according to the semi-official Fars News Agency.
The increase was intended to send a “message” to the US, the spokesman said. However, Iran remains committed to the nuclear deal, he added.
Monday’s announcement may include plans to expand enrichment capacity beyond the limits imposed by the deal.
Trump pulled out of the Obama-era deal in May 2018 arguing it did not go far enough to prevent Iran developing nuclear weapons.
Washington then imposed crippling sanctions on Iran’s economy, particularly its lucrative oil sector. Threatened by sanctions, Iran oil customers were forced to shop elsewhere.
By isolating Iran and draining its revenues, the US hopes to reign in the regime’s “malign influence” across the Middle East.
Tensions have been steadily building between the US and Iran in recent months. Washington has sent an aircraft carrier group, B-52 bombers, and hundreds of troops to the region in response to unspecified Iranian threats.
The crisis escalated further on Thursday when two tankers in the Gulf of Oman caught fire.
Japan, China, the UK, and the European Union (EU) have urged restraint following the incident, which forced the crews of the Norwegian-owned Front Altair and the Japanese-owned Kokuka Courageous to abandon ship.
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) will outline its plans on Monday at a showpiece event at Iran’s heavy water nuclear facility in Arak, Markazi Province, according to Tasnim, a media outlet with close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
“Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization tomorrow at the Arak heavy water site will announce preparatory steps that have been taken to further decrease Tehran’s commitments under the deal,” Tasnim said, without providing a source.
Iran has already scaled back on some of its commitments to the landmark Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in response to the US withdrawal from the deal and the reintroduction of economic sanctions.
In mid-May, Iran announced it would scrap two of its commitments dealing with the shipment of enriched uranium and heavy water.
US President Donald Trump ended two critical waivers in early May that allowed Iran to ship enriched uranium in excess of 300kg and send surplus heavy water exceeding 130 metric tonnes to Oman.
Pressuring the JCPOA’s remaining European signatories to act in defense of the accord, Iran said it would continue producing low enriched uranium and heavy water in excess of the amount permitted under the deal.
The Arak facility is now producing an unlimited supply of heavy water, Tasnim said.
On May 20, the AEOI announced plans to quadruple its production capacity of enriched uranium to 3.67 percent – within the limits of the 2015 nuclear deal and well below the quality needed to develop nuclear weapons – according to the semi-official Fars News Agency.
The increase was intended to send a “message” to the US, the spokesman said. However, Iran remains committed to the nuclear deal, he added.
Monday’s announcement may include plans to expand enrichment capacity beyond the limits imposed by the deal.
Trump pulled out of the Obama-era deal in May 2018 arguing it did not go far enough to prevent Iran developing nuclear weapons.
Washington then imposed crippling sanctions on Iran’s economy, particularly its lucrative oil sector. Threatened by sanctions, Iran oil customers were forced to shop elsewhere.
By isolating Iran and draining its revenues, the US hopes to reign in the regime’s “malign influence” across the Middle East.
Tensions have been steadily building between the US and Iran in recent months. Washington has sent an aircraft carrier group, B-52 bombers, and hundreds of troops to the region in response to unspecified Iranian threats.
The crisis escalated further on Thursday when two tankers in the Gulf of Oman caught fire.
Japan, China, the UK, and the European Union (EU) have urged restraint following the incident, which forced the crews of the Norwegian-owned Front Altair and the Japanese-owned Kokuka Courageous to abandon ship.
Although the cause remains unclear, the US and its Gulf allies have accused Iran and its proxies of attacking the vessels – allegations strenuously denied by Tehran.