Iran "Raises Uranium Enrichment Level to 20%"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Iran has reported to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) its plan to increase uranium enrichment levels to 20%.

According to foreign media on the 1st (local time), the IAEA issued a statement saying, "Iran has reported that the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) will produce low-enriched uranium (LEU) with an enrichment level of up to 20% at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP), in accordance with a law recently passed by the Iranian parliament."

This significantly exceeds the enrichment limit set by the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), but the report did not specify when the enrichment activities would begin.

The Iran nuclear deal was signed in 2015 between Iran and six countries including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the United States, Russia, and China. Under the agreement, Iran agreed to abandon nuclear development, and the six countries agreed to lift economic sanctions against Iran.

However, after U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear deal in May 2018 and reinstated sanctions against Iran, Iran has taken gradual steps to reduce its compliance with the deal.

According to an IAEA report released in October last year, Iran's uranium enrichment level was 4.5%, exceeding the JCPOA limit of 3.67%.

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