[사진 출처 = 연합뉴스]– Iran has expressed its willingness to exceed five times the concentration of uranium enrichment limited by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear agreement (JCPOA, Comprehensive Joint Action Plan).
According to the BBC on the 1st (local time), Iran recently reported to the IAEA a plan to raise the uranium enrichment limit by 5 times (3.67%) by 20%.
“Iran has plans to enrich uranium by up to 20% in the Pordo Enrichment Facility (FFEP), a facility built deep in the mountains,” the IAEA said. “However, it has not been revealed when Iran will begin enrichment activities.”
Iran steadily maintained its uranium enrichment level of up to 4.5% according to a nuclear agreement in 2019, but passed a bill to raise the level of uranium enrichment to 20% after the assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist Mosen Parkrizade last year.
The Iran nuclear agreement promised six countries (UK, France, Germany, the United States, Russia, and China) to deter Iran from developing nuclear weapons and to ease economic sanctions against Iran in return for international inspections. However, when the Donald Trump administration withdrew from the agreement in May 2018 and restored sanctions, Iran did not phase out the conditions promised in May 2019 to freeze and reduce its nuclear program.
In general, it is known that low-enriched uranium with an enrichment of 3 to 5% of uranium can be used to produce fuel for commercial nuclear power plants, and high-enriched uranium of 20% or more is known to be used in research reactors. It must be concentrated at least 90% for use in weapons.
Meanwhile, Iran said it would once again be able to comply with the agreement if the US rejoins the nuclear agreement. Iranian President Hassan Rohany said in December that “if Biden returns to the same situation as in 2017, we will do the same.”
[김경택 매경닷컴 기자 [email protected] / 한하림 매경닷컴 인턴기자]
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