Agency: Iran Crosses Designated Uranium Enrichment Threshold

As the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed Iran’s breach of the designated uranium enrichment threshold, Reuters reported on a two-day visit by France’s presidential adviser to Tehran aimed at reducing tensions between Tehran and Washington.

A spokesman for Yukiya Amano, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, confirmed that Iran has crossed the permitted threshold of 3.67 percent uranium enrichment. This conclusion was drawn from the analysis of samples collected by Agency inspectors during their visits.

Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization said on Monday morning, July 17 (July 8) that the enrichment level of uranium produced in the country had reached 4.5 percent, and the Agency would soon announce the exact enrichment level of the fuel.

Iran aims with this measure to pressure its European partners in the nuclear agreement over its economic demands and force them to meet the country’s requests in the oil and banking sectors.

In another development, Reuters reported, citing a source close to the Élysée Palace, that a senior adviser to the French President is traveling to Tehran on Tuesday, July 18 (July 9) for a two-day visit. The news agency wrote that Emmanuel Bonne’s purpose for this trip is to attempt to reduce tensions between Iran and the United States.

Emmanuel Macron had previously reached an agreement with Hassan Rouhani in a phone call regarding the resumption of talks to preserve the JCPOA and set July 24 as the deadline. Officials at Iran’s Foreign Ministry described the call as positive and welcomed the 4+1 meeting.

Source: DW