|
The measure was introduced
as Iran announced it has started producing uranium
metal-based fuel for a research reactor –
the latest breach of its nuclear deal
with six major powers as the country presses
for a lifting of US sanctions.
Iran has been accelerating
its breaches of the deal
in the past two months. 
Some of those steps were required
by a law passed in response
to the killing of its top nuclear scientist
in November, which Tehran has blamed
on its arch-foe Israel.
An Iranian technician works
at the Uranium Conversion Facility in Isfahan,
south of Tehran (AP/Vahid Salemi/File photo)
They are also, however,
part of a process started by Tehran in 2019
of committing breaches
in response to US President Donald Trump's 2018
withdrawal from the deal
and his reimposition of US sanctions
that the deal lifted in exchange
for restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities.
The moves raise pressure on US President-elect Joe Biden,
who takes office next week
and has pledged to return the United States
to the deal if Iran first resumes
full compliance.
Iran wants Washington
to lift sanctions first.
International Atomic Energy Agency
Director Rafael Mariano Grossi
has "informed IAEA member-states
about recent developments
regarding Iran's plans to conduct
R&D activities on uranium metal production
as part of its declared aim
to design an improved type
of fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor,"
the IAEA said in a statement.
The agency issues ad hoc reports to member states
when Iran commits a new breach of the deal,
though it declines to call them breaches,
leaving that call to parties to the 2015 accord.
The deal specifically imposes a 15-year ban
on Iran producing or acquiring uranium metal,
a sensitive material that can be used
in the core of a nuclear bomb.
The IAEA's report further said Iran
had indicated it plans to produce
uranium metal from natural uranium
and then produce uranium metal enriched
up to 20% for fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor.
The deal also says that can only happen
in small batches and in consultation
with parties to the deal after 10 years.
Separately, Iran also plans to enrich uranium to 20%,
a level it last reached before the 2015 deal,
at its Fordo site buried in a mountain,
and it started that process last week.
It had so far only gone as far as 4.5%,
above the 3.67% limit imposed
by the deal but still far short of the 90%
that is weapons grade.
Iran told the agency on Wednesday,
however, that "there is no limitation on [its] R&D activities"
and "modification and installation
of the relevant equipment
for the mentioned R&D activities
have been already started"
at its Fuel Plate Fabrication Plant in Isfahan,
the IAEA report said.
The sanctions announced by the US
Treasury Department target Execution
of Imam Khomeini's Order (EIKO) and Astan Quds Razavi (AQR),
their leaders and subsidies.
They are the latest action to reinforce
the "maximum pressure" campaign
on Iran pursued by President Donald Trump's administration.
"These institutions enable Iran's corrupt leaders
to exploit a system of ownership
over a wide range of sectors of Iran's economy,"
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.
The Trump administration has piled a barrage
of sanctions on Iranian officials,
politicians and companies but has so far failed
to lure the Iranian government back
to the negotiating table.
On Tuesday, Pompeo said
without providing hard evidence that al Qaeda
had established a new home base in Iran
and that it was time "for America
and all free nations to crush the Iran-al-Qaeda axis."
Republican Trump is due to hand over power on Jan. 20 to Democratic President-elect Joe Biden
who has said the United States
will rejoin the nuclear deal
"if Iran resumes strict compliance."
Advisers to Biden believe the Trump administration
is trying to make it harder
for him to re-engage with Iran.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter
and never miss our top stories!
|
Forum_Polyglot_80
An idea 
photo: screenshot from youtube.com
photo: freepik.com
/translate.googleapis.com/translate_static/img/te_ctrl3.gif"" target="_blank">https://translate.googleapis.com/translate_static/img/te_ctrl3.gif"); background-position: -65px 0px;" />
/avatars.mds.yandex.net/get-zen_doc/927575/pub_5c57053762f8ac00acb9417f_5c57054162f8ac00acb94182/scale_1200" target="_blank">https://avatars.mds.yandex.net/get-zen_doc/927575/...54162f8ac00acb94182/scale_1200 2x" style="border: 0px; padding: 0px; max-width: 540px !important;" />
День Рождения через 2 дня. 
