by Francois Murphy
VIENNA, 11 Oct. (Reuters) – Iran is on track with a planned expansion of uranium enrichment using advanced centrifuges at an underground facility in Natanz, and now plans to move forward, a confidential UN to a greater extent.
And while indirect talks between Iran and the United States on the relaunch of the 2015 nuclear deal have faltered, Tehran has put into service more advanced centrifuges that the deal prohibits using to produce enriched uranium.
These machines are far more efficient than the first-generation IR-1, the only centrifuge that the agreement allows Iran to use to develop its enriched uranium stocks. Iran is installing these devices in two locations, notably underground, in Natanz and Fordow, which may be able to withstand a possible aerial bombardment.
The IAEA report to Member States states that the third series of advanced centrifuges (IR-6) recently installed at the Natanz underground enrichment plant is now operational. Diplomats say IR-6 is Iran’s newest centrifuge.
The IAEA report on Monday showed that Iran also completed the installation of seven series of centrifuges that were either incomplete or at a very early stage of the installation process on August 31, the date of the last mentioned inspectors visit. in the agency’s latest quarterly report.
The report indicated that these seven groups, consisting of one centrifuge (IR-4) and six (IR-2M), have been fully installed but have not yet begun to enrich uranium.
The report also showed that Iran has also informed the IAEA that it intends to add three series of centrifuges (IR-2M), to be added to the 12 already announced and installed.
Of these three groups of IR-2M devices, installation of two has already begun, according to the report.
The report states that all the centrifuges used for enrichment at Natanz still produce enriched uranium hexafluoride at a five percent level, but it is now fed with natural uranium hexafluoride. This contrasts with the September quarterly report which stated that on August 31 the centrifuges were being fed with enriched uranium hexafluoride at a level of 2%. The report did not explain this change.
In 2018, then US President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the Iran deal and re-imposed the sanctions the deal had lifted on Tehran. Iran responded by violating restrictions on its nuclear activities under the deal.
Diplomats say that if the deal is resumed, Iran will have to shut down its advanced centrifuges.
