The enrichment of uranium to a 20% purity level is an option for Iran as its next step in rolling back the engagements under the 2015 nuclear deal, Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said on Monday.
In a state television interview, he said the current level of uranium enrichment is in keeping with Iran’s requirements to run nuclear power plant reactors, adding the level of uranium enrichment in Iran has passed the 4.5% level - superseding the permitted 3.7% level in line with the country's commitments of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
'We hope we can reach a solution, otherwise, after 60 days we will take the third step as well,' he warned, adding that Tehran would give further details at an 'opportune moment.'
Iran submitted a report on Monday detailing the excess limit to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) following the IAEA's statement that it is waiting for a report from its inspectors before commenting on Iran’s move.
Behrouz advised that other options for Iran for its third step could include the scaling down of commitments of the JCPOA, notably that Iran could use new or more centrifuges, which are also limited by the deal.
President Hassan Rouhani warned on Wednesday that the second step of reduction in Iran’s engagements would take place on Sunday, saying, “On July 7, the level of uranium enrichment in Iran will not be 3.67% anymore, as we will abandon such a commitment and increase it to any amount that we need.”
The nuclear deal signed between Iran and Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the U.S., Britain, France, and Germany) in 2015 to eliminate sanctions stage by stage, but its implementation was hindered by the U.S.' decision on May 8, 2018 to pull the country out of the nuclear deal.
By Busranur Begcecanli
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr