Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the launch of the advanced IR6 centrifuge machines and enhancing uranium enrichment to the 60-percent purity level came in response to the terrorist attack on Natanz nuclear facility.
“Launching IR6 centrifuges and 60% uranium enrichment is our response to mischievous move in Natanz, Rouhani said on Wednesday, adding that the enemies cannot commit crimes and expect Iran to remain silent.
“If the Zionists take action against us, we will respond,” he said and added, “If you make a problem for IR1 we will launch IR6 to make you realize that you cannot prevent us from this technology.”
“Our nuclear activities will be purely and definitely peaceful and under the supervision of the Agency,” he added went on to say.
An incident was reported at a part of the power network of the Natanz nuclear facility on Sunday morning.
The incident at the power distribution network of Shahid Ahmadi Roshan facility in Natanz has been blamed on Israel. While Tel Aviv officials have made implicit confession of the terrorist attack, the Israeli state and private media have acknowledged Mossad’s leading role in the attack.
Iranian officials have vowed retaliation against perpetrators, specially Israel.
In relevant remarks on Tuesday, Iran’s Permanent Representative and Envoy to the Vienna-based International Organizations Kazzem Gharibabadi said his country expects to start piling up uranium enriched to the level of 60% purity next week.
Gharibabadi wrote on his Twitter page that Iran will enrich UF6 up to 60% in two cascades of the IR-4 and IR-6 centrifuges in Natanz, adding, “Modification of the process just started and we expect to accumulate the product next week.”
The diplomat noted that the move will promote the quality and quantity of pharmaceuticals in the country.
Enriching UF6 up to 60% will be done in two cascades of IR-4 and IR-6 centrifuges in Natanz. Modification of the process just started and we expect to accumulate the product next week. This will improve significantly both the quality and quantity of radiopharmaceutical products.
Also on Tuesday, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi announced that the AEOI will initiate preparatory steps tonight to start enriching uranium to the 60% purity level, a first move to show Iran’s hardening stance in reaction to the Sunday terrorist attack on Natanz nuclear facility.
“Upon an order by the President, the AEOI has been required to launch 60-percent uranium enrichment line under Article 1 of the Parliament Law on ‘Strategic Action to Remove Sanctions’ and protect the Iranian nation’s interests,” Kamalvandi told FNA on Tuesday.
He further added that the International Atomic Energy Agency has been informed of Iran’s plan, and pointed out that the 60-percent enriched uranium is used in the production of Molybdenum to be used for the production of different types of radiomedicine, with applications in the treatment of patients including those with cardiac problems.
The spokesman further explained about the preparatory steps to be taken tonight, and said executive plans will go under development to replace the damaged IR1 centrifuges with new machines with a 50-percent higher capacity due to their quality improvements.