Iran announces installation of more advanced centrifuges in Natanz and Fordow
Iran's permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna announced that the Islamic Republic has installed two 348-unit chains of IR2m centrifuges in Natanz, with a capacity four times that of previous centrifuges, and two chains of IR6 centrifuges in Fordow.
Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's representative to international organizations based in Vienna, announced on his Twitter account that the Islamic Republic has installed a chain of centrifuges with greater enrichment capacity in Natanz and Fordow.
The tweet reads: “Thanks to our hardworking nuclear scientists, two 348-unit IR2m centrifuges with a capacity of almost 4 times that of IR2 are now operating successfully at Natanz with UF6 (uranium hexafluoride) gas. Installation of two IR6 centrifuges has also begun at Fordow. More to come soon.”
Gharibabadi added in this tweet: "The International Atomic Energy Agency is still able to verify and has been informed of this development as planned."
Israel's warning
Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said in a radio interview that the Trump administration's withdrawal from the JCPOA nuclear deal and the sanctions that were imposed "have dealt a serious blow to Iran's nuclear project."
Steinitz said that Iran would need six months to produce fissile material to build its first nuclear weapon.
Steinitz added that 25 kilograms of 90% enriched uranium are needed to make a nuclear weapon. Accordingly, Iran will be able to produce several nuclear weapons in one to two years.
After the US withdrew from the JCPOA, the Islamic Republic announced that it would increase uranium enrichment to 20%, contrary to the provisions of the JCPOA.
The Israeli energy minister said that "as for enrichment, the current situation is such that if they (the Iranians) take all the necessary steps, they can accomplish this within six months."
In a November report on Iran, the International Atomic Energy Agency said that the Islamic Republic had acquired 2,400 kilograms of enriched uranium, ten times the amount that was set aside for Iran in the JCPOA agreement.
America: First step, the parties' return to the JCPOA
Robert Malley, the new US administration's special representative for Iran, says that the killing of Mohsen Fakhryzadeh, a prominent nuclear expert of the Islamic Republic, for whatever purpose, has neither changed Joe Biden's position on the nuclear agreement with Iran (JCPOA) nor Iran's position.
In an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, he emphasized that Joe Biden, the current US President, both before and after Fakhrizadeh's killing, has always emphasized that if Iran returns to the JCPOA, the United States will also return.
Regarding expanding the JCPOA and including disputed issues such as Iran's missile program and regional behavior, Mali clarified: "Biden has clearly said that he wants to return to the JCPOA. But we can talk about making this agreement comprehensive when all parties have returned to complying with its provisions and reconciled with each other. Only then will the possibility of new negotiations arise."
