Iran begins manufacturing’metallic uranium’ used in nuclear weapons development

Enter 2021.01.14 14:35 | Revision 2021.01.14 14:49

Iran begins manufacturing uranium, a metal used to develop nuclear weapons. Ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, the US is pressing for the restoration of the Comprehensive Joint Action Plan (JCPOA). JCPOA, so-called’Iran Nuclear Agreement’, aims to lift sanctions against Iran by the United States in exchange for Iran’s exclusion of nuclear activities.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) obtained a confidential report prepared by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the 13th (local time) and reported as such. Reportedly, the IAEA said in its report to its member states that “Iran will introduce metallic uranium manufacturing facilities at its Isfahan facility within four to five months.”

Reuters also cited the contents of the report on the same day as “Iran plans to manufacture 20% enriched metallic uranium and use it as fuel for a research reactor in Tehran.” Iran’s IAEA Ambassador Kazem Garibadi later acknowledged a series of reports, saying, “The design of advanced fuels for research reactors in Tehran and related research and development activities have begun.”

Metal uranium is made from uranium, the fuel of a nuclear reactor, in the form of a metal rod. It is also used to make nuclear weapons, and when the US and Iran signed the JCPOA in 2015, they agreed to a clause stating that “Iran will not manufacture or acquire metallic uranium for 15 years.”

The IAEA reportedly expressed concern over news of Iran’s manufacturing of metallic uranium. After Iran announced on the 4th that it would significantly increase the concentration of uranium enrichment from 3.67% to 20%, which was agreed with the United States in the past, it appears that it is pulling out a’nuclear armament’ card again, including capturing a Korean chemical carrier. Iran, however, said, “There are no restrictions on research and development,” and said it does not engage in IAEA.

It is unclear whether the Iranian provocation will lead to the US return to JCPOA. Biden promised that “if Iran adheres to the existing agreement, the US will return to the agreement” during the presidential election last year.