Iran continues to enrich uranium in second set of centrifuges at Natanz
The second set of centrifuges located in the Iranian region of Natanz is preparing to continue uranium enrichment despite the violation it would entail of the 2015 nuclear pact. Previously, Iran had already begun uranium enrichment through 174 IR-2m machines. This time, however, it is launching the second wave of enrichment of the three it intends to carry out. This comes as no surprise to anyone, as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been warning since last November that the country headed by Hassan Rohani was starting up this process of using advanced centrifuges, for which it is not authorised.
The spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, Behrouz Kamalvandi, stated on 28 January that 'before the end of the three-month period, 1,000 IR-2M centrifuges will be installed at Natanz'. He also stressed that Iran is presenting itself as a country of reference for the future in the nuclear energy sector and that these measures do not fall outside the framework of the "Strategic Action to Lift Sanctions" law. This law forces the AEOI to produce and stockpile a minimum of 120 kg of 20% enriched uranium. However, according to the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran, Mohamad Baqer Qalibaf, 17 of those 120 have been enriched in just one month, a further sign of the Iranian state's growing capacity. Not only that, Iran has also made significant progress in the field of radiopharmaceuticals, the oxygen-18 isotope and even uranium oxide, which has a very high concentration and is used as a raw material for the subsequent manufacture of enriched uranium.
On the other hand, Iran continues to hope that the United States will return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), from which the Americans unilaterally withdrew. Moreover, they are demanding that this return be unconditional and accompanied by an end to restrictions against their country. The JCPOA also has the membership of other world powers; Russia, China, France, Germany and the United Kingdom complete the agreement signed in 2015, created precisely to limit Iran's atomic programme in exchange for providing them with some leeway in terms of international sanctions.
For the time being, the Persian country has no intention of curbing the uranium enrichment it is carrying out and they claim that it should be the United States that takes the step towards a return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, something that, despite being seen with more optimism following the arrival of Joe Biden in the White House, does not seem to be close. In fact, the recently appointed Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has reached out to reconciliation. However, he has made it clear that the Iranians should be the ones to backtrack and return to the nuclear deal: "Iran must announce compliance with its obligations and an end to the threats, and then the United States will verify that compliance before returning".
They are not the only actors involved. France argues that Iran's commitment should not be affected by the presence of the US and that its commitment to the JCPOA should be maintained regardless of the US decision. While it is true that there is also talk of debate for the country presided over by Biden to return to this agreement.