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Iran has informed that it has begun enriching uranium to a level that allows for the production of nuclear weapons

Author:
Oleg Panfilovych
Date:

The Iranian authorities have confirmed information from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about the launch of a new generation of centrifuges for uranium enrichment.

This was reported by Anadolu agency.

It is noted that the official representative of the Atomic Energy Agency of Iran, Behruz Kemalvendi, confirmed this information on the air of Iranian state television. According to him, Iran informed the IAEA about injecting gas into the new IR6 centrifuge chain at Fordow to speed up uranium enrichment.

Kemalvendi also added that with the new centrifuge system it was possible to achieve uranium enrichment of up to 20%, which Iran also reported to the IAEA. Earlier, the agency published a report in which it was reported that Iran had launched new centrifuges to enrich uranium to a higher level.

The content of the uranium-235 isotope in the uranium-238 isotope at a level of up to 20% is called low-enriched and is used (starting from a concentration of 2-5%) in power reactors. The same isotope with a content of 20% or more is called highly enriched or "weapon-grade" because it can be used in thermonuclear weapons as a shell of the charge.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council signed an agreement in 2015 that puts Iranʼs nuclear activities under control in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.