UN atomic watchdog: Iran now operating Natanz centrifuges

he of UN atomic watchdog ncy confirmed on Wednesday reports that Iran has begun operating centrifuges installed at an underground site, but said y h been moved from ar facility so country's overall uranium-enriching capabilities have t increased.

Rafael Grossi, director-general of International Atomic Energy ncy, told reporters in Vienna that 174 centrifuges h been moved into a new area of Natanz nuclear site and h recently begun operating.

He said that operation of centrifuges of that was in violation of nuclear deal Iran h signed with world powers in 2015 — kwn as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA — but would t le to a greater overall output of enriched uranium.

Iran is alrey far past deal's limits on enriched uranium, he ted.

“It is alrey beyond limits of JCPOA but in general terms re is significant increase in volumes,” Grossi said.

So it's a nuance. According to a confidential document distributed to member countries and seen by Associated Press last week, Iran as of v. 2 h a stockpile of 2,442.9 kilograms (5,385.7 pounds) of low-enriched uranium. That is up from 2,105.4 kilograms (4,641.6 pounds) reported on Aug. 25. nuclear deal signed by United States, Germany, France, Britain, China and Russia allows Iran only to keep a stockpile of 202.8 kilograms (447 pounds).

Iran has also been continuing to enrich uranium to a purity of up to 4.5%, higher than 3.67% allowed under deal, IAEA has said.

Iran has openly anunced all its violations of nuclear deal in vance, following President Donald Trump's 2018 decision to pull America out of deal.

deal promised Iran ecomic incentives in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.

Since U.S. withdrawal and imposition of new sanctions, Tehran has been putting pressure on remaining parties with violations to come up with new ways to offset ecomy-crippling actions by Washington.

At same time, Iranian government has continued to allow IAEA inspectors access to its nuclear facilities — one of main reasons or signatories to deal say it is worth preserving.

deal was meant to prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon, something country insists it does t intend to do.

After an explosion at Natanz nuclear site in July, which Iran called sabot, Tehran said it would build a new, more secure, structure in mountains around area.

Grossi confirmed to AP in an interview last month that construction was underway at site.

He told reporters again on Wednesday that re is movement, re is construction.

(IM CREDITS:PTI)