VIENNA - Iran is producing highly-enriched uranium faster than called for by the law under which it started the process of enriching to 20% fissile purity last month, diplomats and a report by the U.N. nuclear watchdog on Tuesday said.
As part of a recent acceleration of its breaches of its 2015 nuclear deal with major powers, Iran has begun refining uranium to 20% at Fordow, a site that was built in secret inside a mountain where the deal says Iran cannot enrich at all.
Until last month Iran had not enriched beyond 4.5% purity - above the deal s limit of 3.67% but still far below the 20% it achieved before the deal, or the 90% that is weapons-grade. Uranium is considered highly enriched as of 20%.
They are producing 15 kg a month of uranium enriched to 20%. That is their production rate, a senior diplomat said.
Recent legislation that required Iran to start enriching to 20% stipulated that at least 120 kg (265 pounds) of uranium refined to that level be produced each year, which amounts to 10 kg a month.
A second diplomat said Iran was slightly above the target of 10 kg a month.
A quarterly report on Iran s nuclear activities by the U.N. nuclear watchdog on Tuesday obtained by Reuters said that as of Feb. 16 Iran had produced 17.6 kg of uranium enriched up to 20%, with the next level down being enriched between 2%-5%.
Iran s overall stockpile of enriched uranium grew by 524.9 kg to 2,967.8 kg in the quarter, far above the 2015 deal s 202.8 kg stockpile limit though still a fraction of the more than eight tonnes Iran had prior to the deal. REUTERS
Tuesday 2 March 2021
todayonline - 6 days ago
Iran producing highly enriched uranium faster than law requires
Latest News
Fauci says U.S. must stick to two-shot strategy for Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccines - paper
- todayonline 1,700 flats surrendered to HDB over past 5 years, including 700 given up due to reasons like divorce
- straitstimes Josephine Teo trucks out the old and tired argument of the foreign bogeyman once more
- theonlinecitizen SDP’s Chee Soon Juan urges JRTC to build sidewalk near Blk 190 after resident was hit by a vehicle
- theonlinecitizen Transparency is key in addressing unwanted foreign influence, said NUS Assoc. Prof
- theonlinecitizen Boeing, Australian air force say pilotless, fighter-like jet completed first test flight
- todayonline Hong Kong democrat faints in court after protesters gather for landmark subversion hearing
- asiaone New York virus variant harbors another worrisome mu vaccinating elderly adds most years of life
- asiaone Chinese vessels increasingly intrude into Japanese waters after new Chinese law comes into force
- asiaone
CapitaLand and CDL s earnings may rebound in 2021, but will that lift their share prices?
- businesstimes
WillScot Mobile Mini Announces Launch of Secondary Offering and Concurrent Stock Repurchase
- asiaone Fall in Singapore s January arrivals attributed to fresh flare-up of Covid-19 pandemic, seasonal factors
- businesstimes U.S. says detentions in Hong Kong show national security law is being used to stifle dissent
- todayonline Historic Hyperloop Vehicle to be Unveiled to the Public at the Smithsonian FUTURES Exhibition this Fall
- asiaone U.S. considering additional steps to promote accountability for Houthi leaders in Yemen
- todayonline Johnson Johnson waiting on new plant approval to ship high volumes of vaccine: executive
- todayonline Acres: David the tame wild boar from viral video in S pore likely trained by feeder over time
- mothership Sources