Nuclear watchdog confirms 60% uranium enrichment at Iran’s Natanz plant

The United Nation’s nuclear watchdog, International Atomic Energy Agency said on Saturday that Iran started enriching its Uranium to 60% fissile purity at a nuclear plant in Natanz. 

IAEA said in a statement, “The Agency today verified that Iran had begun the production of UF6 enriched up to 60%… at the (above-ground) Natanz Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant.”

A confidential report for member states, seen by Reuters, said, “According to Iran’s declaration to the Agency, the enrichment level of the UF6 produced at PFEP was 55.3% U-235. The Agency took a sample of the produced UF6 for destructive analysis to independently verify the enrichment level declared by Iran. The results of this analysis will be reported by the Agency in due course.”

Also Read: Enrichment, sabotage under spotlight over new Iran nuclear talks

Iran has a number of sanctions imposed on it and the United States is currently in the process to convince Iran and revive the nuclear deal scrapped by former President Donald Trump. The deal was a big step towards producing weapons-grade uranium.

Previously, Iran had reached 20% purity which was more than 16% above the permitted levels for the country according to the deal. It can enrich on 3.67%, reported Reuters. 

Also Read: Iran says 60% enrichment response to Israel’s ‘nuclear terrorism’

The 60% step-up in enrichment was done as a response to the blast at the Fuel Enrichment Plant at Natanz that damaged equipment. The attack was blamed on Israel by Iran.