IAEA: Iran installs more advanced centrifuges at uranium enrichment plant

Inside the Natanz nuclear research center, about 300 km south of the Iranian capital Tehran afp

Reuters cites a secret report of the nuclear watchdog of United Nation sent to member states on 8 June said that Iran has begun to install advanced IR-6 centrifuges at Natanz.

Commercial scale fuel enrichment plant (FEP) of Iran live Natanza is the largest factory in the country. FEP was built underground, apparently to avoid the risk of bombardment from the air.

“On June 6, 2022, the IAEA verified that Iran had begun installing IR-6 centrifuges in a single stage in the FEP as Iran had previously reported to the IAEA,” the report said.

According to the report, in a letter received by the IAEA on June 6, Iran also informed the United Nations nuclear watchdog of its intention to install two “new stages” of IR-6 machines at FEP.

“On June 8, 2022, the IAEA verified that the installation of the ‘new’ two-stage IR-6 has not yet commenced,” the report added.

The report was sent out just before the 35-nation IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution criticizing Iran for its failure to explain the presence of traces of uranium at undeclared locations. Iran has said it is not developing nuclear weapons, warning the IAEA move could affect diplomacy and Tehran will respond.

Ahead of the governor’s vote, Iran also said it would “turn off” two IAEA surveillance cameras at an unspecified uranium enrichment plant.

The incident comes as negotiations to restore the 2015 Iran nuclear deal continue to be at a protracted stalemate.

2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the above powers world only allow Tehran to use the first generation IR-1 machines. However, after Washington withdrew from the agreement in 2018 under the Former President Donald TrumpIran has installed more efficient advanced centrifuges such as IR-2m and IR-4.

For months, though, Tehran has delayed plans to install a series of IR-6s.