Iran has significantly expanded its uranium enrichment capabilities, now having more than 10,000 operational centrifuges at its underground facilities at Natanz and Fordow, as well as an above-ground plant at Natanz. According to a new report, the country plans to install 32 additional cascades each comprising around 174 machines, as well as an unprecedented giant cascade of 1,152 advanced IR-6 centrifuges.
The report does not mention the enrichment of Iranian uranium to 60% purity, close to the 90% needed for nuclear weapons. This omission could reflect a cautious approach by Iran on the eve of talks planned for Friday in Geneva with Britain, France and Germany, aimed at renewing dialogue with the West. Just before the quarterly meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors last week, Iran proposed limiting its stockpiles of enriched uranium to 60%, on the condition that the Board does not take a resolution against the country. Although the IAEA confirmed that Iran has slowed its enrichment to the highest level, calling it “a concrete step in the right direction”, its Board of Governors adopted a resolution proposed by the United Kingdom, France , Germany and the United States, reiterating the call for Iran to increase its cooperation with the agency. The report also states that Iran has informed the IAEA that eight cascades of recently added IR-6 machines will be put into operation to enrich uranium up to 5% purity, while an August report indicated that the intended purity level was not specified.
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