The UN’s atomic agency says Iran has produced a small amount of uranium metal at a facility in Isfahan, in a further violation of the 2015 nuclear deal, according to a Wednesday report. The Wall Street Journal said Iran started making the material on Monday, citing a confidential report of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
IAEA: Iran has started producing uranium metal, in violation of nuke deal
STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 11, ARTSAKHPRESS: Uranium metal can be used as a component in nuclear weapons. Iran had signed up to a 15-year ban on “producing or acquiring plutonium or uranium metals or their alloys” under the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed in 2015 with world powers.
Iran previously told the UN nuclear watchdog that it was advancing research on uranium metal production, saying it is aimed at providing advanced fuel for a research reactor in Tehran.
In a joint statement last month, European foreign ministers warned there was no credible civilian use for the material.
“The production of uranium metal has potentially grave military implications,” said the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany. “We strongly urge Iran to halt this activity, and return to compliance with its JCPOA commitments without further delay if it is serious about preserving the deal,” said the ministers.
