VIENNA, Aug 18 — Iran has established a process to accelerate production of highly enriched uranium, the UN nuclear watchdog said yesterday, with talks to save the 2015 nuclear deal at a standstill. International Atomic Energy Agency director Rafael Grossi informed IAEA member states that Tehran...
VIENNA, Aug 18 — Iran has established a process to accelerate production of highly enriched uranium, the UN nuclear watchdog said yesterday, with talks to save the 2015 nuclear deal at a standstill. International Atomic Energy Agency director Rafael Grossi informed IAEA member states that Tehran was boosting such capacity at its Natanz enrichment plant.
The agency verified on Saturday that “Iran had configured a new operational mode for the production of UF6 enriched up to 60 per cent U-235,” Grossi said in a statement to AFP.The move takes Iran closer to the 90 per cent purity level needed for use in a nuclear weapon.The Islamic republic has gradually rolled back its nuclear commitments since 2018, when then US president Donald Trump withdrew from a multilateral nuclear deal and began imposing sanctions. The 2015 deal known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, gave Iran relief from sanctions in return for curbs on its nuclear programme. Under the accord, Iran had committed to keep enrichment to 3.67 per cent, though it had stepped this up to 20 per cent in January. Trump’s successor Joe Biden said he hopes to revive the nuclear deal and indirect talks in Vienna, through European intermediaries, started in the Austrian capital in April.The EU said earlier this month that Iran is ready to resume talks under new president Ebrahim Raisi, and meetings could take place in Vienna from early September. Meanwhile the United States on Monday urged Iran to return to the negotiations, voicing alarm over Iranian production of uranium metal reported by the UN nuclear watchdog. According to the report presented by Grossi, Iran has made 200 grammes of the metal, after having announced such a project in July for research purposes. The State Department said Washington believed Tehran “has no credible need to produce uranium metal”. Under the 2015 deal, Iran promised not to produce the metal, which can be used to build a nuclear bomb. — AFP
Please follow us on Google to support us Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Economic relaxation measures positive for automotive sector, says MIDF Amanah Investment Bank | Malay MailKUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 — The announcement on economic relaxation measures, including the reopening of non-essential manufacturing sectors including auto and component plants starting today, is a positive development for the automotive sector. MIDF Amanah Investment Bank said yesterdays’...
Read more »
UK plans to evacuate hundreds from Afghanistan each day, says PM’s spokesman | Malay MailLONDON, Aug 16 — Britain will evacuate hundreds of British nationals and eligible Afghan nationals every day, and flights out of Afghanistan will continue for as long as it is safe, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman said today. “I’d say at least hundreds every day will be leaving...
Read more »
Barca can escape financial hole in 18 months, says president | Malay MailMADRID, Aug 16 — FC Barcelona can reverse their poor financial situation within a year and a half, president Joan Laporta told a news conference today, after saying the club ended last year €451 million (RM2.25 billion) in the red. “I reckon that in a couple of years the club will be...
Read more »
GSK, CureVac say their Covid-19 vaccine shows promise in monkey trial | Malay MailLONDON, Aug 16 — Britain’s GlaxoSmithKline and German biotech firm CureVac said today their jointly developed mRNA Covid-19 vaccine candidate showed improved immune response and protection against the virus in a preclinical animal study. Higher antibody neutralising capacity was seen with the...
Read more »
Taliban takeover is world’s failure, says UK | Malay MailLONDON, Aug 16 — The Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan is a “failure of the international community”, Britain’s Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said today, assessing that the West’s intervention was a job only half-done. “All of us know that Afghanistan is not finished. It’s an...
Read more »