Iranian enriched uranium stocks exceed 300kg, says FM Zarif

Iran has increased the stockpile of its low-enriched uranium production to over 300 kilograms which was already announced in line with paragraphs 26 and 36 of a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif made these remarks on Monday. He was answering a question by Iran’s ISNA news agency on the sidelines of a ceremony in the central Iranian city of Natanz.
“According to my information, Iran has surpassed the 300kg limit [in producing low-enriched uranium] and we had already announced [that we were planning to do] this,” Iran’s top diplomat said.
“According to what has been announced, we have said very clearly what we are doing and consider this as part of our rights as per the JCPOA.”
Most importantly, he noted Iran had already announced that if steps taken by Europeans to compensate any possible losses to Iran following unilateral withdrawal of the US from the JCPOA were not adequate, it would take steps to reduce its commitments in return.
And as the Islamic Republic had announced, Iran will implement the second stage of reducing our commitments.

Tasnim News quoted Zarif as sayinfg that first stage is going on with regard to [the enriched] uranium stocks and heavy water stocks.

Meanwhile, the IRIB news agency also quoted Zarif as saying that the second stage is about the enrichment level, which currently stands at 3.67 percent.

According to IRNA, Zarif said that in a letter penned by Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani to the remaining signatories of the JCPOA, Iran had clearly noted that if Europeans took necessary steps to fulfill their commitments, Iran’s measures to reduce its JCPOA commitments would be reversible.

“However, if they do not take necessary measures, we have been entitled since last year, in accordance with Paragraph 36 of the JCPOA, to take our own appropriate steps,” Iran’s foreign minister said.
‘Iran’s measure can be reversed if Europe abides by obligations’

Also in a tweet later on Monday, Zarif emphasized that the measure does not amount to violation of the JCPOA by Tehran.

Moreover, he cited that para 36 of the accord illustrates why: We triggered & exhausted para 36 after US withdrawal. He said they gave E3+2 a few weeks while reserving our right; [and] we finally took action after 60 weeks.

Iran’s foreign minister also emphasized that Iran’s measure could be reserved as soon as European sides start to fulfill their obligations as per the JCPOA.

In early May, the ambassadors of the countries remaining in the deal — France, Britain, Germany, Russia and China — received a letter penned by President Rouhani.

Notably, Rouhani elaborated suspension of some of Iran’s commitments under the JCPOA.

In that letter, Iran had informed the five remaining signatories to the JCPOA nuclear deal of its decision to suspend the implementation of some of its commitments under the multinational agreement, exactly one year after the United States unilaterally abandoned the international document.

US President Donald Trump withdrew Washington in May 2018 from the JCPOA, reached between

Iran and the P5+1 group of countries — the US, Britain, France, Russia and China plus Germany — in July 2015. He also decided to re-impose unilateral sanctions against Tehran.

Under the JCPOA, Iran undertook to put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions.

Under the JCPOA, Iran is allowed to keep 300 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 3.67 percent. The deal requires Tehran to sell off any enriched uranium above the limit on international markets in return for natural uranium.

On the first anniversary of the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal, Iran announced that it would suspend the implementation of some of its commitments under the deal, announcing that it would stop exporting excess uranium and heavy water, setting a 60-day deadline for the five remaining parties to the deal to take practical measures towards ensuring its interests in the face of the American sanctions.

On July 17, the spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said the Islamic will surpass the uranium stockpile limit set under the nuclear deal from June 27.

“Today the countdown to pass the 300 kilograms reserve of enriched uranium has started and in 10 days time, we will pass this limit,” Behrouz Kamalvandi told reporters at the Arak Heavy Water Reactor Facility.

“This is based on the paragraphs 6 and 36 (of the nuclear deal), and will be reversed once other parties live up to their commitments,” he added.
Iran may also increase uranium enrichment to up to 20 percent for use in local reactors, he said. The 2015 nuclear accord caps the level of purity to which Iran can enrich uranium at 3.67 percent.

Tehran has said it may go even further by July 8 unless remaining partners to the deal help it circumvent US sanctions and especially enable it to sell its oil.

Meanwhile, earlier in May, Iran announced that it had increased by fourfold the production rate of uranium enriched to 3.67% just a few weeks after the country officially stopped implementing some of its commitments.

Kamalvandi made the remarks while addressing reporters at Natanz nuclear facility. He said this issue does not mean an increase in enrichment level or an increase in centrifuge machines or a change in the type of centrifuges, but the production capacity of these 3.67% enriched uranium will be quadrupled.
Furthermore, Iran has informed the International Atomic Energy Organization (IAEA) of this issue.

iran enriched uranium deal