Iran Announces That It Will Start Enriching Uranium To 60% Purity

IAEA inspectors and Iranian technicians work at Natanz facility south of the capital Tehran [File: Kazem Ghane/IRNA via AP]

Tehran Times: Iran starts enriching uranium to 60% purity

TEHRAN — Abbas Araghchi, Iran's deputy foreign minister, announced in Vienna on Tuesday that Iran has sent a letter to the IAEA informing the body that the Islamic Republic intends to start enriching uranium to up to 60% purity.

Araghchi broke the story as he visited Vienna on Tuesday for nuclear deal talks with P4 + 1 group, which is set to start on Thursday.

Abbas Araghchi emphasized that another 1,000 centrifuges with 50% more capacity will be added to the existing machines in Natanz, in addition to replacing the damaged machines.

In a speech to the Assembly of Experts last year, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, stressed, “The Islamic Republic will not back down from its rational position on the nuclear issue, and according to the interests and needs of the country, it will go as far as 60% enrichment as needed.”

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WNU Editor: I am not sure if this week's indirect U.S. - Iran talks will be getting anywhere with this announcement.

More News On Iran Announcing That It Will Start Enriching Uranium To 60% Purity

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Iran to begin 60% uranium enrichment after nuclear site incident -- Reuters

Iran to enrich uranium to 60 percent, highest level yet -- Al Jazeera

Iran Hits Back After Natanz Sabotage: 'We'll Start 60% Uranium Enrichment On Wednesday' -- Zero Hedge