Hundreds of advanced centrifuges with a high capacity for uranium enrichment have been installed at Iran’s two main nuclear sites.
Iran’s envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Kazem Gharibabadi, announced on Tuesday that new cascades of centrifuges at the underground Natanz and Fordow sites were installed.
“Thanks to our diligent nuclear scientists, two cascades of 348 IR-2m centrifuges with almost four times the capacity of IR1 are now running with UF6 successfully in Natanz,” Gharibabadi said in a tweet.
The installment of these centrifuges is progressing, with greater developments planned for more nuclear sites around Iran. The UN watchdog has been informed of the progress and plans, according to Gharibabadi.
Iran’s enrichment of uranium is strictly limited by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed with major world powers in 2015. Yet, after former President Donald Trump of the United States pulled unilaterally out of the agreement in 2018, Iran has plowed ahead. In January 2021, Iran had announced that it had stockpiled 17 kilograms of 20 percent enriched uranium.
“Iran’s new developments with uranium and the installment of the new centrifuges showcases the scientific might of Iran,” Kazem Jalai, Ambassador to Russia, said. “In the wake of the arbitrary sanction regimes and threats to Iranian sovereignty from the United States, Russia’s continued economic and military support is incredibly appreciated and there are hopes to collaborate scientifically in the future.
