IAEA: Iran halts nuclear capacity expansion under Rohani
International Atomic Energy Agency report says Iran has halted previously rapid expansion of its uranium enrichment capacity in past three months, since moderate Hassan Rohani became president
Iran has virtually halted a previously rapid expansion of its uranium enrichment capacity in the past three months, the UN nuclear agency said in a report roughly covering the period since moderate Hassan Rohani
became president.
The quarterly report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also showed that Iran's stockpile of higher-grade enriched uranium – closely watched by the West and Israel – had risen by about 5% to 196 kg since August.
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But it remained below the roughly 250 kg needed for a bomb if refined further. Iran denies Western and Israeli accusations that it is seeking nuclear weapons capability, saying it is enriching uranium only for peaceful energy.
The quarterly IAEA report – scrutinized by Western governments – was the first that included developments only since Rohani took office on August 3, prompting a diplomatic opening during which Iran and six world powers have made progress towards ending a standoff over its nuclear activity.
The IAEA said Iran had installed only four first-generation centrifuges – machines used to refine uranium – at its Natanz plant since August, making a total of 15,240. In the previous three-month period, May-August, it installed more than 1,800. Not all of the installed centrifuges are operating.
Rohani, a pragmatist, succeeded bellicose hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in August, promising to try to settle the decade-old nuclear dispute and secure an easing of sanctions that have severely damaged Iran's oil-dependent economy.
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