The move at its underground Fordow facility was confirmed by UN watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
It was the most striking suspension however of Iranian commitments below the landmark deal, a approach it began in 2019 in response to US President Donald Trump’s dramatic withdrawal from the accord the prior year.
“At around 7 pm (1530 GMT Monday), we reached 20 percent” enrichment, spokesman Behrouz Kamalavandi told state tv in an interview aired on Tuesday.
Announcing the move on Monday, government spokesman Ali Rabiei stated President Hassan Rouhani had ordered the enrichment “in recent days” in line with a law passed final month by the conservative-dominated parliament.
The law “for the lifting of sanctions and protection of the Iranian people’s interests” mandates Rouhani’s government to “produce and store 120 kilogrammes (265 pounds) per year of uranium enriched to 20 percent.”
Foreign Minister Javad Zarif tweeted that “we resumed 20% enrichment as legislated by our parliament,” adding that the IAEA had been “duly notified”.
He stressed that Tehran took the step “after years of non-compliance” by other parties and that “our measures are fully reversible upon FULL compliance by ALL”.
The step comes much less than 3 weeks prior to the finish of the presidency of Trump, who has sought to economically punish and diplomatically isolate Iran with a “maximum pressure” campaign, such as challenging sanctions.
The outgoing administration deplored Iran’s program to step up uranium enrichment.
“Iran enriching uranium to 20 percent at Fordow is a clear attempt to increase its campaign of nuclear extortion, an attempt that will continue to fail,” a State Department spokesperson stated.
The Iranian government has signalled a readiness to engage with President-elect Joe Biden, who has expressed willingness to return to diplomacy with Tehran and requires workplace on January 20.
Iran’s return to enrichment of uranium to 20 % purity has triggered international concern since it is noticed as a considerable step towards the 90 % level expected for a nuclear weapon.
Israel warning
The IAEA confirmed that “Iran today began feeding uranium already enriched up to 4.1 percent U-235 into six centrifuge cascades at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant for further enrichment up to 20 percent”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted angrily and charged it proved Iran is in search of to make an atomic bomb — a claim the Islamic republic has usually denied.
“Iran’s decision to continue violating its commitments, to raise the enrichment level and advance the industrial ability to enrich uranium underground, cannot be explained in any way except as the continued realisation of its intention to develop a military nuclear programme,” Netanyahu stated in a statement.
“Israel will not allow Iran to manufacture nuclear weapons.”
The European Union stated Iran’s enrichment programme would be a “considerable departure” from the deal.
Russia’s envoy to the IAEA stated that Moscow is “not enthusiastic” about Tehran’s move but emphasised that “there is nothing to overdramatise”.
“The nuclear programme remains fully transparent and verifiable,” Mikhail Ulyanov wrote on Twitter. “We should focus on means to restore comprehensive implementation of the nuclear deal.”
Bound by law
Iran had on December 31 informed the IAEA that it would commence making uranium enriched to up to 20 %, the level it had prior to the nuclear deal was reached.
According to the most up-to-date IAEA report accessible, published in November, Tehran was previously enriching uranium to levels higher than the limit offered for in the 2015 Vienna agreement (3.67 %) but not exceeding the 4.5 % threshold, and nonetheless complied with the agency’s strict inspection regime.
But there has been turmoil given that the assassination in late November of Iranian nuclear physicist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.
In the aftermath of the attack, blamed on Israel, hardliners in Tehran pledged a response and the conservative-dominated parliament passed the new law.
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Rouhani had opposed the legislation, describing it as “detrimental to the course of diplomatic activities.”
Quoted by the government’s web-site, Rabiei stated that the administration’s stance towards the law is clear, “but the government considers itself bound to carry out the law”.