Iran Nuclear Chief: 20% Uranium Enrichment Can Resume in Days
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran is able to restart the process of enriching uranium to a purity level of 20 percent in only four days if necessary, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said.
In comments on Sunday evening, Ali Akbar Salehi said Iran can begin 20 percent uranium enrichment at the Fordow nuclear site in only four days at the discretion of senior authorities.
The Islamic Republic’s capability to resume 20-percent enrichment in such a short time has clear messages for the US, he added.
Salehi also warned against the consequences of collapse of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear agreement between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany), saying Iran’s nuclear activities will be much broader than before if it has to exit the deal.
His comments came against a backdrop of constant threats from the US President Donald Trump’s administration to scrap the JCPOA.
In August 2017, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said if the US government decides to repeat the failed experience of imposing sanctions on Iran, Tehran can immediately acquire capabilities in its nuclear industry that would be much more advanced than those prior to the JCPOA negotiations.