Source: Al Jazeera | Editor: Khomarul Hidayat
KONTAN.CO.ID – TEHERAN. Iran’s nuclear program is still running. In fact, it continues to increase uranium supplies by violating the limits set out in the 2015 nuclear deal with a number of developed countries. But Iran has now begun providing access to sites it is suspected of having used to store or use undeclared nuclear material.
As quoted Al JazeeraThe International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reports in classified documents distributed to its member states that Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile is now at more than 10 times the limit set in the 2015 nuclear deal.
As of August 25, 2020, Iran has stockpiled 2,105.4 kg (4,641.6 pounds) of uranium, up from the 1,571.6 kg (3,464.8 pounds) reported on May 20, 2020.
Iran signed a nuclear deal in 2015 with the United States, Germany, France, Britain, China and Russia.
Known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear deal allows Iran to store only 202.8 kg (447 pounds) of supplies.
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The IAEA also reports that Iran continues to enrich uranium to a purity of up to 4.5%, higher than the 3.67% allowed under the JCPOA.
The deal promises Iran economic incentives in exchange for curbing its nuclear program.
But in 2018, US President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled the US out of the deal. Trump said the deal needed to be renegotiated.
Since then, Iran has slowly eased restrictions in a bid to pressure countries other than the US to increase incentives to offset new economic crippling US sanctions.
The countries maintain that even though Iran has violated many of the pact’s restrictions, it is important to keep the deal going as it continues to provide the IAEA with critical access to inspect its nuclear facilities.
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