Earth Science News
NUKEWARS
Iran to launch 'advanced centrifuges' in response to IAEA censure
Reuters Events SMR and Advanced Reactor 2025
Iran to launch 'advanced centrifuges' in response to IAEA censure
By Payam Doost Mohamadi
Tehran (AFP) Nov 22, 2024

Iran said Friday it would launch a series of "new and advanced" centrifuges in response to a resolution adopted by the UN nuclear watchdog that censures Tehran for what the agency called lack of cooperation.

The censure motion brought by Britain, France, Germany, and the United States at the 35-nation board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) follows a similar one in June.

The resolution -- which China, Russia and Burkina Faso voted against -- was carried with 19 votes in favour, 12 abstentions and Venezuela not participating, two diplomats told AFP.

"The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran issued an order to take effective measures, including launching a significant series of new and advanced centrifuges of various types," a joint statement by the organisation and Iran's foreign ministry said.

It added, however, that "technical and safeguards cooperation with the IAEA will continue, as in the past" and within the framework of agreements made by Iran.

Iran's retaliatory measures "are reversible if this (Western) hostile action is withdrawn or negotiations are opened," Tehran-based political analyst Hadi Mohammadi told AFP.

- 'Legal obligations' -

The resolution comes with tensions running high over Iran's atomic programme, with critics fearing that Tehran is attempting to develop a nuclear weapon -- a claim the Islamic republic has repeatedly denied.

The confidential resolution seen by AFP says it is "essential and urgent" for Iran to "act to fulfil its legal obligations" under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) ratified in 1970.

The NPT requires signatory states to declare and place their nuclear materials under the control of the IAEA.

The text also calls on Tehran to provide "technically credible explanations" for the presence of uranium particles found at two undeclared locations in Iran.

In addition, Western powers are asking for a "comprehensive report" to be issued by the IAEA on Iran's nuclear efforts "at the latest" by spring 2025.

The resolution comes just as the IAEA's head Rafael Grossi returned from a trip to Tehran last week, where he appeared to have made headway.

During the visit, Iran agreed to an IAEA demand to cap its sensitive stock of near weapons-grade uranium enriched up to 60 percent purity.

- 'Cycle of provocation' -

"Iran did not start the cycle of provocation -- the Western side could, without passing a resolution ... create the atmosphere for negotiations if it really was after talks," expert Hadi Mohammadi said.

In 2015, Iran and world powers reached an agreement that involved the easing of international sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme to guarantee that Tehran could not develop a nuclear weapon -- something it has always denied seeking to do.

But the United States unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018 under then-president Donald Trump and reimposed biting economic sanctions, which prompted Iran to begin rolling back on its own commitments.

Tehran has since significantly decreased its cooperation with the agency by deactivating surveillance devices monitoring the nuclear programme and barring UN inspectors.

At the same time, it has ramped up its nuclear activities, including by increasing its stockpiles of enriched uranium and the level of enrichment to 60 percent.

That level is close, according to the IAEA, to the 90 percent plus threshold required for a nuclear warhead and substantially higher than the 3.67 percent limit it agreed to in 2015.

Related Links
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
NUKEWARS
UN nuclear watchdog board passes resolution chiding Iran
Vienna (AFP) Nov 21, 2024
The UN nuclear watchdog's board of governors passed a resolution chiding Iran's poor cooperation with the agency after hours of heated exchanges, diplomats told AFP late on Thursday, a move Tehran called "politically motivated". The censure motion brought by Britain, France, Germany and the United States at the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation board follows a similar one in June. But it comes as tensions run high over Iran's atomic programme, with critics fearing that Tehran is att ... read more

NUKEWARS
Focaccia baking in the Late Neolithic highlights complex food traditions

Spire Global partners with LatConnect60 to enhance data-driven agriculture practices

These crops dominate Germany's agricultural landscape

Scientists seek miracle pill to stop methane cow burps

NUKEWARS
Austin becomes first US defence chief to visit Fiji

Study sees 'resurgence' of China aid to the Pacific

To design better water filters, MIT engineers look to manta rays

US moves to ramp up military engagements with Fiji

NUKEWARS
Main points of the $300 billion climate deal

UN Chief calls COP29 deal a 'foundation' amid fears of weak agreement

At climate talks, painstaking diplomacy and then anger

Crunch time: What still needs to be hammered out at COP29?

NUKEWARS
Perovskite advancements improve solar cell efficiency and longevity

MIT, Harvard and Mass General lead 408 MW green energy push

Stability of perovskite solar cells boosted with innovative protective layer

New initiative empowers Native American women with solar training

NUKEWARS
Turning emissions into renewable methane fuel

Turning automotive engines into modular chemical plants to make green fuels

Sacred cow: coal-hungry India eyes bioenergy to cut carbon

Waste heat from London sewers eyed to warm UK parliament

NUKEWARS
Failure haunts UN environment conferences

MapGuard enhances emergency evacuation tools across the Baltics

China zeroes in on 'common' disputes in wake of deadly attacks

Center for Catastrophe Modeling advances disaster preparedness solutions

NUKEWARS
Russia gave N. Korea oil, anti-air missiles in exchange for troops: officials

Concern as climate talks stalls on fossil fuels pledge

Russian ruble hits lowest level against dollar since March 2022

Spin-powered crystals enable efficient hydrogen production

NUKEWARS
Western leaders on their guard with China ahead of Trump return

Most Asian markets drop, dollar gains as Trump fires tariff warning

Most markets track Wall St gains, bitcoin closes on $100,000

US restricts food, metal imports on Uyghur forced labor concerns

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.