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Iran halts uranium enrichment under nuclear deal Iran halts uranium enrichment under nuclear deal
(about 2 hours later)
Iran has halted its most sensitive uranium enrichment work as part of a landmark deal struck with world powers, state television said.Iran has halted its most sensitive uranium enrichment work as part of a landmark deal struck with world powers, state television said.
The broadcast said Iran had stopped enriching uranium to 20% – which is just steps away from being capable of producing fuel for an atom bomb – by cutting the link that feeds the cascades enriching uranium in Natanz.The broadcast said Iran had stopped enriching uranium to 20% – which is just steps away from being capable of producing fuel for an atom bomb – by cutting the link that feeds the cascades enriching uranium in Natanz.
"Voluntarily halting the production of 20% uranium enrichment is the major measure that we are undertaking on Monday by noon," Ali Akbar Salehi, Iran's nuclear chief told the official IRNA news agency, referring to a nuclear deal agreed in November between Iran and world powers."Voluntarily halting the production of 20% uranium enrichment is the major measure that we are undertaking on Monday by noon," Ali Akbar Salehi, Iran's nuclear chief told the official IRNA news agency, referring to a nuclear deal agreed in November between Iran and world powers.
State media reports said international inspectors were present on Monday when Iran began implementing its obligations under the historic deal reached in Geneva on 24 November. They left to monitor the suspension at Fordo, another uranium enrichment site in central Iran.State media reports said international inspectors were present on Monday when Iran began implementing its obligations under the historic deal reached in Geneva on 24 November. They left to monitor the suspension at Fordo, another uranium enrichment site in central Iran.
The official IRNA news agency said Iran also started to convert part of its stockpile of 20% enriched uranium to oxide to produce nuclear fuel.
Under the historic deal, Iran agreed to halt its 20% enrichment program but will continue enrichment up to 5%. It also agreed to convert half of its stockpile of 20% enriched uranium to oxide and dilute the remaining half to 5% over a period of six months.
In addition to the enrichment measures, the six-month interim deal also commits Iran to opening its nuclear program to greater UN inspections and providing more details on its nuclear activities and facilities. Iran will also refrain from commissioning its under-construction 40 megawatt heavy water reactor in Arak, central Iran.
In return, it receives a halt to new sanctions and easing of existing sanctions. Measures targeting petrochemical products, gold and other precious metals, the auto industry, passenger plane parts and services will be lifted immediately.
The Geneva deal allows Iran to continue exporting crude oil in its current level, which is reported to be about 1 million barrels a day.
Iran's hard-liners have called the deal a "poisoned chalice", highlighting the difficult task President Hasan Rouhani faces in selling the accord to skeptics.
Hard-line media denounced the planned halt. The Vatan-e-Emrooz daily printed in black Monday instead of its usual colors, a sign of sorrow and mourning. It declared the deal a "nuclear holocaust" and called it a gift to Israel's Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu.
"Today, Netanyahu is the happiest person in the world," it said. However, the Israeli prime minister has made the opposite argument as the hard-liners: He says the deal gives Iran too much for too few concessions.
The interim Geneva accord will last for six months as Iran and the world powers negotiate a final deal. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told reporters on Saturday that Tehran is ready to enter talks for a permanent accord as soon as the interim deal goes into force.
The US and some of its allies fear that Iran may finally be able to build an atomic weapon. Iran has denied the charges, saying its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes such as electricity and producing medical isotopes to treat cancer patients.