TEHRAN: Iran on Sunday said it was raising its enrichment of uranium beyond limit of 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
Iran said that starting Sunday, its uranium enrichment will surpass 3.6 percent, above the limit set under the 2015 nuclear deal with major nations.
The accord capped Iran’s enrichment maximum at 3.67 percent, sufficient for power generation but far below the more than 90 percent level required for a nuclear weapon.
The uranium enrichment would be raised to a level for the Bushehr nuclear power plant, which officials said earlier was 5 percent.
Bushehr is Iran’s only nuclear power station and is currently running on imported fuel from Russia that is closely monitored by the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who is also the country’s senior nuclear negotiator, in a press conference said that Tehran has given enough time to diplomacy and its reduction of commitments was not in violation of the pact.
“The doors of diplomacy are still open, but new initiatives are required,” Araqchi said.
Iran’s reduction of its commitments to 2015 nuclear deal will continue every 60 days, he added.
Iran was acting on its May 8 threat to suspend from Sunday parts of the agreement in response to US President Donald Trump’s re-imposition of crippling sanctions after withdrawing from the deal in May last year.