Netanyahu: Increased enrichment shows Iran seeks nuclear weapons

JANUARY 4, 2021 14:22

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during a meeting with Slovenia’s Prime Minister Janez Janša in Jerusalem, December 8, 2020

(photo credit: OHAD TZVEIGENBERG‏/POOL)

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Iran is continuing to show that it plans to develop nuclear weapons, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned after Iran announced it had resumed 20% uranium enrichment at an underground nuclear facility on Monday.

“Iran’s decision to continue violating its commitments, to increase the level of enrichment and advance its abilities to enrich uranium underground cannot be explained in any way other than the continued implementation of its intention to develop a military nuclear program,” Netanyahu warned.

The prime minister added that “Israel will not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons.”

The move is the latest Iranian contravention of the 2015 nuclear deal with major powers.

“A few minutes ago, the process of producing 20% enriched uranium has started in Fordow enrichment complex,” government spokesman Ali Rabeie told Iranian state media.

The step was one of many mentioned in a law passed by Iran’s parliament last month in response to the killing of the country’s top nuclear scientist, which Tehran has blamed on Israel. Such moves by Iran could hinder attempts by the incoming Biden administration to rejoin the deal.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency is set to inform members on Monday about developments in Iran, the IAEA said in response to the announcement.

“Agency inspectors have been monitoring activities at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant in Iran. Based on their information, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi is expected to submit a report to IAEA Member States later today,” a spokesman for the nuclear watchdog said by email.

In Brussels, an European Union Commission spokesperson said that the “move, if confirmed, would constitute a considerable departure from Iran’s commitments”.

“All participants are interested in keeping deal alive. The deal will be kept alive as long as all participants keep their commitments.“

EU said it would wait for a briefing by the head of the IAEA to EU member states before commenting further.

The Iran nuclear deal’s main aim was to extend the time Iran would need to produce enough fissile material for a nuclear bomb, if it chose to, to at least a year from roughly two to three months. It also lifted international sanctions against Tehran, which US President Donald Trump’s administration reimposed after leaving the Iran deal in 2018.

On January 1, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Tehran had told the watchdog it planned to resume enrichment up to 20% at Fordow site, which is buried inside a mountain.

“The process of gas injection to centrifuges has started a few hours ago and the first product of uranium hexafluoride (UF6) gas will be available in a few hours,” Rabeie said.”The process has started after taking measures like informing the UN nuclear watchdog.”

Iran had earlier breached the deal’s 3.67% limit on the purity to which it can enrich uranium, but it had only gone up to 4.5% so far, well short of the 20% level and of the 90% that is weapons-grade.

US intelligence agencies and the IAEA believe Iran had a secret, coordinated nuclear weapons program that it halted in 2003. Iran denies ever having had one.