On Saturday, as Iran celebrates Nuclear Technology Day, President Hassan Ruhani officially unveiled a cascade of 164 IR-6 centrifuges and 30 IR-5s at Natanz, reaffirming that Tehran’s nuclear program is purely for peacekeeping purposes. The opening ceremony was televised without showing the centrifuge cascade itself.
Thus, a few days after negotiations began in Vienna on the possibility of rescuing the endangered nuclear deal and rejoining the United States, Tehran has violated its obligations under the Pact.
The agreement Iran signed in 2015 with the United States, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia, committing to curbing its nuclear program in exchange for easing sanctions, is on the verge of collapse since 2018, when then-US President Donald Trump decided that Washington withdraw from the agreement and renew sanctions against the Iranian economy. Following the US decision, Iran also began to withdraw from its obligations under the Pact.
Diplomats from Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and Iran met in Vienna this week to discuss the future of the agreement. The US delegation also participated indirectly in the negotiations. Diplomats were briefed on the work of two expert groups on issues related to the lifting of sanctions and enforcement of the nuclear treaty. Experts are examining what steps Iran and the United States should take to get Washington back on the deal.
After the meeting, all parties acknowledged that the talks had started hopefully.
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