Iran has said it increased Uranium enrichment. Japan concerned over Iran Nuclear Move and said to return immediately to commitment.

Return Immediately to commitment; Japan on Iran Nuclear move

Japan concerned over Iran Nuclear Move

Iran to raise Uranium enrichment level from 3.67% to 5%. Iran set to announce further reductions of N deal. Iran President talks to french counterpart on phone. Watch this video to know more.

Iran to increase Uranium enrichment to 5%

Iran announces new breach of nuclear deal

Does Uranium Enrichment Mean That Iran Can Build Nuclear Bombs?

Gravitas: How to interpret Iran's moves?

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday urged Iran to stick to its commitments under<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-it-has-broken-enriched-uranium-stockpile-limit-set-by-2015-nuclear-deal-232067"> the nuclear deal </a>and address differences through a dispute mechanism, his spokesman said.&nbsp;

Iran earlier said it had exceeded a limit established under the deal on its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/iran-nuclear-deal-is-hanging-by-a-thread-224862">stockpile of low-enriched uranium.</a>&nbsp;

"It is essential that this issue, like other issues related to the implementation of the plan, be addressed through the mechanisms established in the JCPOA," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Watch: Iran confirms the breach of Uranium Limit

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The JCPOA is the formal name of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as the nuclear deal is known.

Guterres encourages Iran "to continue implementing all its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA," said Dujarric.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif earlier said Iran had crossed the 300 kilogram limit imposed under the nuclear deal.&nbsp;

Tehran has sought to pressure the remaining parties to save the deal by announcing that it would no longer abide by some of its commitments.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday urged Iran to stick to its commitments under the nuclear deal and address differences through a dispute mechanism, his spokesman said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday urged Iran to stick to its commitments under the nuclear deal and address differences through a dispute mechanism, his spokesman said. Iran earlier said it had exceeded a limit established under the deal on its stockpile of low-enriched uranium. "It is essential that this issue, like other issues related to the implementation of the plan, be addressed through the mechanisms established in the JCPOA," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Watch: Iran confirms the breach of Uranium Limit The JCPOA is the formal name of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as the nuclear deal is known. Guterres encourages Iran "to continue implementing all its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA," said Dujarric. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif earlier said Iran had crossed the 300 kilogram limit imposed under the nuclear deal. Tehran has sought to pressure the remaining parties to save the deal by announcing that it would no longer abide by some of its commitments.

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres urges Iran to stick to nuclear deal after breaching cap

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-it-has-broken-enriched-uranium-stockpile-limit-set-by-2015-nuclear-deal-232067">Iran says it has broken enriched uranium stockpile limit set by nuclear deal</a> 
 
Iran has breached a 300kg (660lb) limit on its stockpile of low-enriched uranium set under a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/violent-clashes-as-hong-kong-marks-china-handover-anniversary-232056">Violent clashes as Hong Kong marks China handover anniversary</a> 
 
The angry scenes ramped up tensions in the financial hub which has been rocked by three weeks of historic demonstrations against a hugely unpopular bill that would allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/water-crisis-in-india-centre-sends-out-250-civil-servants-to-driest-areas-232082">Water crisis in India: Centre sends out 250 civil servants to driest areas&nbsp;</a> 
 
India's monsoon, which accounts for nearly 70 per cent of the country's annual rainfall, turned patchy in the first month of the season that began on June 1.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/samajwadi-party-will-support-extension-of-presidents-rule-in-jammu-kashmir-ram-gopal-yadav-232008">Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, Biju Janata Dal to support extension of President's Rule in Jammu &amp; Kashmir</a> 
 
On June 28, Lok Sabha approved the statutory resolution to extend President's Rule in Jammu &amp; Kashmir with effect from July 3rd, 2019.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-gun-battle-rages-in-kabul-after-blast-injures-100-taliban-claims-responsibility-231998">Afghanistan: Gun battle rages in Kabul after blast injures 100, Taliban claims responsibility</a>

A blast in the Afghan capital on Monday was part of an attack by Taliban fighters targeting the defence ministry compound in Kabul, the Islamist militant group said in a statement.

Iran says it has broken enriched uranium stockpile limit set by nuclear deal Iran has breached a 300kg (660lb) limit on its stockpile of low-enriched uranium set under a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

Iran says it has broken enriched uranium stockpile limit set by nuclear deal Iran has breached a 300kg (660lb) limit on its stockpile of low-enriched uranium set under a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Violent clashes as Hong Kong marks China handover anniversary The angry scenes ramped up tensions in the financial hub which has been rocked by three weeks of historic demonstrations against a hugely unpopular bill that would allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland. Water crisis in India: Centre sends out 250 civil servants to driest areas India's monsoon, which accounts for nearly 70 per cent of the country's annual rainfall, turned patchy in the first month of the season that began on June 1. Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, Biju Janata Dal to support extension of President's Rule in Jammu & Kashmir On June 28, Lok Sabha approved the statutory resolution to extend President's Rule in Jammu & Kashmir with effect from July 3rd, 2019. Afghanistan: Gun battle rages in Kabul after blast injures 100, Taliban claims responsibility A blast in the Afghan capital on Monday was part of an attack by Taliban fighters targeting the defence ministry compound in Kabul, the Islamist militant group said in a statement.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Iran has breached the limit of its enriched uranium stockpile set in a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/iran-nuclear-deal-is-hanging-by-a-thread-224862">2015 nuclear deal</a> with major powers, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday, according to the ISNA news agency, defying a warning by European co-signatories to stick to the deal despite US sanctions.

Zarif confirmed that Iran had exceeded the relevant limit of 300 kg of uranium hexafluoride (UF6), but Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said Iran's steps to decrease its commitments to the nuclear deal were "reversible".

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that its inspectors were verifying whether Iran had accumulated more enriched uranium than allowed.&nbsp;

"Our inspectors are on the ground and they will report to headquarters as soon as the LEU (low-enriched uranium) stockpile has been verified, a spokesman for the U.N. agency said.

Enriching uranium to a low level of 3.6% fissile material is the first step in a process that could eventually allow Iran to amass enough highly-enriched uranium to build a nuclear warhead.

Last Wednesday, the IAEA verified that Iran had roughly 200 kg of low-enriched uranium, just below the deal’s 202.8 kg limit, three diplomats who follow the agency’s work told Reuters. A quantity of 300 kg of UF6 (uranium hexafluoride) corresponds to 202.8 kg of LEU.&nbsp;

After talks on Friday in Vienna, Iran said European countries had offered too little in the way of trade assistance to persuade it to back off from its plan to breach the limit, a riposte to U.S. President Donald Trump`s decision last year to quit the deal and reimpose economic sanctions.

Mousavi urged them on Monday to step up their efforts. "Time is running out for them to save the deal," state TV quoted him Mousavi as saying.&nbsp;

The deal between Iran and six world powers lifted most international sanctions against Iran in return for restrictions on its nuclear work aimed at extending the time Iran would need to produce a nuclear bomb, if it chose to, from roughly 2-3 months to a year.

Israel worried

Iran says its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes, including generating power. Its regional adversary Israel, which Iran does not recognise, says the program presents it with an existential threat.&nbsp;

Joseph Cohen, head of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, urged the international community to stop Iran from "stepping up enrichment".

"Just imagine what will happen if the material stockpiled by the Iranians becomes fissionable, at military enrichment grade, and then an actual bomb," he told the Herzliya security conference before Zarif's announcement.

"The Middle East, and then the entire world, will be a different place. Therefore, the world must not allow this to happen."&nbsp; 
In May, Washington piled pressure on Tehran by ordering all countries to halt imports of Iranian oil, and tensions have been growing in the Gulf ever since.

Washington has dispatched extra forces to the Middle East, and U.S. fighter jets came within minutes of conducting air strikes on Iran last month after Tehran downed an unmanned American drone.

In a speech on Monday broadcast on state TV, Iranian Zarif said: "Iran will never yield to pressure from the United States ... If they want to talk to Iran, they should show respect ...

"Never threaten an Iranian ... Iran has always resisted pressure, and has responded with respect when respected."

Trump has called for negotiations with Iran with "no preconditions", but Tehran has ruled out talks until the United States returns to the nuclear pact and drops its sanctions.

Iran has breached the limit of its enriched uranium stockpile set in a 2015 nuclear deal with major powers, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday, according to the ISNA news agency, defying a warning by European co-signatories to stick to the deal despite US sanctions.

Iran has breached the limit of its enriched uranium stockpile set in a 2015 nuclear deal with major powers, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday, according to the ISNA news agency, defying a warning by European co-signatories to stick to the deal despite US sanctions. Zarif confirmed that Iran had exceeded the relevant limit of 300 kg of uranium hexafluoride (UF6), but Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said Iran's steps to decrease its commitments to the nuclear deal were "reversible". The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that its inspectors were verifying whether Iran had accumulated more enriched uranium than allowed. "Our inspectors are on the ground and they will report to headquarters as soon as the LEU (low-enriched uranium) stockpile has been verified, a spokesman for the U.N. agency said. Enriching uranium to a low level of 3.6% fissile material is the first step in a process that could eventually allow Iran to amass enough highly-enriched uranium to build a nuclear warhead. Last Wednesday, the IAEA verified that Iran had roughly 200 kg of low-enriched uranium, just below the deal’s 202.8 kg limit, three diplomats who follow the agency’s work told Reuters. A quantity of 300 kg of UF6 (uranium hexafluoride) corresponds to 202.8 kg of LEU. After talks on Friday in Vienna, Iran said European countries had offered too little in the way of trade assistance to persuade it to back off from its plan to breach the limit, a riposte to U.S. President Donald Trump`s decision last year to quit the deal and reimpose economic sanctions. Mousavi urged them on Monday to step up their efforts. "Time is running out for them to save the deal," state TV quoted him Mousavi as saying. The deal between Iran and six world powers lifted most international sanctions against Iran in return for restrictions on its nuclear work aimed at extending the time Iran would need to produce a nuclear bomb, if it chose to, from roughly 2-3 months to a year. Israel worried Iran says its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes, including generating power. Its regional adversary Israel, which Iran does not recognise, says the program presents it with an existential threat. Joseph Cohen, head of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, urged the international community to stop Iran from "stepping up enrichment". "Just imagine what will happen if the material stockpiled by the Iranians becomes fissionable, at military enrichment grade, and then an actual bomb," he told the Herzliya security conference before Zarif's announcement. "The Middle East, and then the entire world, will be a different place. Therefore, the world must not allow this to happen." In May, Washington piled pressure on Tehran by ordering all countries to halt imports of Iranian oil, and tensions have been growing in the Gulf ever since. Washington has dispatched extra forces to the Middle East, and U.S. fighter jets came within minutes of conducting air strikes on Iran last month after Tehran downed an unmanned American drone. In a speech on Monday broadcast on state TV, Iranian Zarif said: "Iran will never yield to pressure from the United States ... If they want to talk to Iran, they should show respect ... "Never threaten an Iranian ... Iran has always resisted pressure, and has responded with respect when respected." Trump has called for negotiations with Iran with "no preconditions", but Tehran has ruled out talks until the United States returns to the nuclear pact and drops its sanctions.

Iran says it has broken enriched uranium stockpile limit set by 2015 nuclear deal

Iran will speed up enrichment of uranium after a deadline given to European countries to prevent this ends on Thursday, the spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation said on Wednesday, according to the IRIB news agency.

"The deadline of the Atomic Energy Organisation for passing the production of enriched uranium from the 300 kilogram border will end tomorrow," the organisation's spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said.&nbsp;

"With the end of this deadline, the speed of enrichment will speed up."

The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council said on Tuesday that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-must-stick-to-nuclear-commitments-warn-germany-uk-over-enriched-uranium-row-228119">Islamic Republic will take new steps to reduce its commitments under its nuclear dea</a>l with world powers on July 7.

Tensions between Iran and the United States have escalated ever since, with Washington bolstering its military presence in the region and blacklisting Iran's Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation.

The US has also blamed Iran for last week's attacks on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman, a charge Tehran has denied as "baseless".

Iran has threatened to go even further in scaling down nuclear commitments by July 8 unless remaining partners to the deal -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- help it circumvent US sanctions and especially enable it to sell its oil.

Watch: Iran hits back after fresh US sanctions, calls it 'permanent closure' of diplomacy

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Under the agreement, Iran pledged to reduce its nuclear capacities for several years and allow international inspectors inside the country to monitor its activities in return for relief from international sanctions.

The deal set a limit on the number of uranium-enriching centrifuges, and restricted its right to enrich uranium to no higher than 3.67 per cent, well below weapons-grade levels of around 90 per cent.

It also called on Iran to export enriched uranium and heavy water to ensure that the country's reserves would stay within the production ceiling set by the agreement, yet recent US restrictions have made such exports virtually impossible.

Iran will speed up enrichment of uranium after a deadline given to European countries to prevent this ends on Thursday, the spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation said on Wednesday, according to the IRIB news agency.

Iran will speed up enrichment of uranium after a deadline given to European countries to prevent this ends on Thursday, the spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation said on Wednesday, according to the IRIB news agency. "The deadline of the Atomic Energy Organisation for passing the production of enriched uranium from the 300 kilogram border will end tomorrow," the organisation's spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said. "With the end of this deadline, the speed of enrichment will speed up." The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council said on Tuesday that the Islamic Republic will take new steps to reduce its commitments under its nuclear deal with world powers on July 7. Tensions between Iran and the United States have escalated ever since, with Washington bolstering its military presence in the region and blacklisting Iran's Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation. The US has also blamed Iran for last week's attacks on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman, a charge Tehran has denied as "baseless". Iran has threatened to go even further in scaling down nuclear commitments by July 8 unless remaining partners to the deal -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- help it circumvent US sanctions and especially enable it to sell its oil. Watch: Iran hits back after fresh US sanctions, calls it 'permanent closure' of diplomacy × Under the agreement, Iran pledged to reduce its nuclear capacities for several years and allow international inspectors inside the country to monitor its activities in return for relief from international sanctions. The deal set a limit on the number of uranium-enriching centrifuges, and restricted its right to enrich uranium to no higher than 3.67 per cent, well below weapons-grade levels of around 90 per cent. It also called on Iran to export enriched uranium and heavy water to ensure that the country's reserves would stay within the production ceiling set by the agreement, yet recent US restrictions have made such exports virtually impossible.

Iran will speed up enriching of uranium after deadline to Europe ends on Thursday: Report

Germany and Britain on Monday warned Tehran not to breach <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-exceed-enriched-uranium-limit-in-10-days-iran-227944">uranium stockpile limits set by the 2015</a> nuclear deal, as the EU's diplomatic chief dismissed Iranian threats as "political dialectics".

Iran set a 10-day countdown on Monday to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-weighing-full-range-of-options-to-counter-iran-including-a-military-strike-mike-pompeo-on-iran-227800">exceed the 300-kilogram limit set </a>on its enriched uranium stocks, dealing another blow to the crumbling nuclear accord signed by Tehran and six international powers.

The EU has battled to save the agreement since US President Donald Trump withdrew and reimposed sanctions, but Iran said it would step back from exceeding the 300-kg limit on June 27 only if "other parties live up to their commitments".

The move comes as Iran tries to step up pressure on the deal's other signatories -- Germany, France, Britain, China and Russia -- to help it sidestep US sanctions and in particular enable it to sell oil.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas rejected the Iranian ultimatum and insisted Tehran must stick to its commitments under the deal.

"We have already said in the past that we will not accept less for less. It is up to Iran to stick to its obligations," Maas said after talks with EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.

"We will certainly not accept a unilateral reduction of obligations."

A spokesman for the British government echoed the call, saying the E3 -- the European signatories to the deal -- has "consistently made clear that there can be no reduction in compliance".

"For now Iran remains within its nuclear commitments. We are coordinating with E3 partners on next steps," the spokesman added.

The European Union's diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini said the bloc would not act on the basis of Iranian rhetoric but wait for reports by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"Our assessment on the implementation of the nuclear deal has never been, is not and will never be based on statements, but on the evaluation that the IAEA makes, the reports that the IAEA produces and that can be done at any time," Mogherini said after the talks.

"Announcements are relevant elements of political dialectics but our assessment on the implementation of the agreement is based on the factual, technically sound assessment and evaluation that the IAEA makes in its reports."

On May 8, President Hassan Rouhani said Iran would stop observing restrictions on its stocks of enriched uranium and heavy water agreed under the 2015 nuclear deal.

Rouhani said the move was in retaliation for the unilateral US withdrawal from the accord a year earlier, which saw Washington impose tough economic sanctions on Tehran.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington have escalated ever since, with the United States bolstering its military presence in the region and blacklisting Iran's Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation. 
&nbsp;

Germany and Britain on Monday warned Tehran not to breach uranium stockpile limits set by the 2015 nuclear deal, as the EU's diplomatic chief dismissed Iranian threats as "political dialectics".

Germany and Britain on Monday warned Tehran not to breach uranium stockpile limits set by the 2015 nuclear deal, as the EU's diplomatic chief dismissed Iranian threats as "political dialectics". Iran set a 10-day countdown on Monday to exceed the 300-kilogram limit set on its enriched uranium stocks, dealing another blow to the crumbling nuclear accord signed by Tehran and six international powers. The EU has battled to save the agreement since US President Donald Trump withdrew and reimposed sanctions, but Iran said it would step back from exceeding the 300-kg limit on June 27 only if "other parties live up to their commitments". The move comes as Iran tries to step up pressure on the deal's other signatories -- Germany, France, Britain, China and Russia -- to help it sidestep US sanctions and in particular enable it to sell oil. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas rejected the Iranian ultimatum and insisted Tehran must stick to its commitments under the deal. "We have already said in the past that we will not accept less for less. It is up to Iran to stick to its obligations," Maas said after talks with EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg. "We will certainly not accept a unilateral reduction of obligations." A spokesman for the British government echoed the call, saying the E3 -- the European signatories to the deal -- has "consistently made clear that there can be no reduction in compliance". "For now Iran remains within its nuclear commitments. We are coordinating with E3 partners on next steps," the spokesman added. The European Union's diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini said the bloc would not act on the basis of Iranian rhetoric but wait for reports by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). "Our assessment on the implementation of the nuclear deal has never been, is not and will never be based on statements, but on the evaluation that the IAEA makes, the reports that the IAEA produces and that can be done at any time," Mogherini said after the talks. "Announcements are relevant elements of political dialectics but our assessment on the implementation of the agreement is based on the factual, technically sound assessment and evaluation that the IAEA makes in its reports." On May 8, President Hassan Rouhani said Iran would stop observing restrictions on its stocks of enriched uranium and heavy water agreed under the 2015 nuclear deal. Rouhani said the move was in retaliation for the unilateral US withdrawal from the accord a year earlier, which saw Washington impose tough economic sanctions on Tehran. Tensions between Tehran and Washington have escalated ever since, with the United States bolstering its military presence in the region and blacklisting Iran's Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation.

Iran must stick to nuclear commitments, warn Germany, UK over enriched uranium row

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-may-attack-israel-if-us-standoff-escalates-cabinet-minister-218054&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjw5Zroi6DiAhXD73MBHUmJDUMQFjACegQIEBAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw0eu-hyOG3NADuN-CEjFRCc">Iran </a>has no plans to launch centrifuge machines able to enrich uranium at higher capacity or to alter its relations with the UN&nbsp;nuclear watchdog, the spokesman for its civilian nuclear agency was quoted as saying on Thursday.

Last week, Iran notified <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/china-formally-arrests-two-canadians-detained-for-months-on-national-security-grounds-219091&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiSoZv9iKDiAhUPaI8KHZpCAroQFjABegQIDxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1ap9JhvFUwGFBEyeAwh7Or">China</a>, France, Germany, <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/russias-increasing-influence-in-cuba-stirs-ghost-of-cold-war-215866&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjwidaBjKDiAhVu8XMBHYdiC6oQFjADegQIDxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw2-GkCT4tYINrvbMaSSS8oq">Russia </a>and Britain that would scale back some commitments under its 2015 nuclear deal, a year after the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/opinions/in-line-with-us-sanctions-china-dramatically-reduces-trade-with-tehran-193997&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjq8qOQjKDiAhXs8HMBHT78B1MQFjACegQIDhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw2rMAagYVdFNnSkmqHlCI1z">United States withdrew from the pact and reimposed sanctions on Tehran</a>.

Iran’s initial moves, involving the stockpiling of some nuclear materials, did not appear to violate the deal's terms.

But Iran warned that unless the other signatories to the deal protect Iran’s economy from US&nbsp;sanctions within 60 days, Tehran would start refining uranium to a fissile purity above that deemed suitable for fuelling civilian power plants.

"We do not currently have any plan to increase capacity and production process by changing the capacity of centrifuges," Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, told the semi-official news agency ISNA.

"Increasing the capacity and production process is being carried out with the same number of already installed centrifuges in Natanz (enrichment plant)," Kamalvandi said.

Regarding enhanced monitoring of Iranian nuclear sites by the IAEA under the deal, "in some stages, and to carry out some technical work, the IAEA needs to be informed in advance, which has been done and is being done," ISNA quoted him as saying.

The restrictions on uranium enrichment accepted by Iran under the deal were aimed at extending the time it would need to produce a nuclear bomb, if it chose to, to a year from roughly 2-3 months.

The United States and the IAEA believe Iran had a clandestine nuclear weapons programme that it later abandoned.

Tehran denies ever having had one.

The deal imposes a 15-year cap on the level of purity to which Iran can enrich uranium at 3.67 per cent, far below the 90 per cent of weapons-grade.

It is also well below the 20 per cent level to which Iran enriched uranium before the deal.

Iran is also allowed to refine uranium only with its first-generation, lower-capacity IR-1 centrifuges.

It can use small numbers of more advanced centrifuges for research, but without accumulating enriched uranium.

Iran has no plans to launch centrifuge machines able to enrich uranium at higher capacity or to alter its relations with the UN nuclear watchdog, the spokesman for its civilian nuclear agency was quoted as saying on Thursday.

Iran has no plans to launch centrifuge machines able to enrich uranium at higher capacity or to alter its relations with the UN nuclear watchdog, the spokesman for its civilian nuclear agency was quoted as saying on Thursday. Last week, Iran notified China, France, Germany, Russia and Britain that would scale back some commitments under its 2015 nuclear deal, a year after the United States withdrew from the pact and reimposed sanctions on Tehran. Iran’s initial moves, involving the stockpiling of some nuclear materials, did not appear to violate the deal's terms. But Iran warned that unless the other signatories to the deal protect Iran’s economy from US sanctions within 60 days, Tehran would start refining uranium to a fissile purity above that deemed suitable for fuelling civilian power plants. "We do not currently have any plan to increase capacity and production process by changing the capacity of centrifuges," Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, told the semi-official news agency ISNA. "Increasing the capacity and production process is being carried out with the same number of already installed centrifuges in Natanz (enrichment plant)," Kamalvandi said. Regarding enhanced monitoring of Iranian nuclear sites by the IAEA under the deal, "in some stages, and to carry out some technical work, the IAEA needs to be informed in advance, which has been done and is being done," ISNA quoted him as saying. The restrictions on uranium enrichment accepted by Iran under the deal were aimed at extending the time it would need to produce a nuclear bomb, if it chose to, to a year from roughly 2-3 months. The United States and the IAEA believe Iran had a clandestine nuclear weapons programme that it later abandoned. Tehran denies ever having had one. The deal imposes a 15-year cap on the level of purity to which Iran can enrich uranium at 3.67 per cent, far below the 90 per cent of weapons-grade. It is also well below the 20 per cent level to which Iran enriched uranium before the deal. Iran is also allowed to refine uranium only with its first-generation, lower-capacity IR-1 centrifuges. It can use small numbers of more advanced centrifuges for research, but without accumulating enriched uranium.

Iran plans no changes to nuclear centrifuges, IAEA ties: civilian nuclear agency spokesman

Iran, on Tuesday, told the International Atomic Energy Agency that it has started a plan to increase its uranium enrichment capacity.&nbsp;

Nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi notified the agency in a letter submitted on Monday.&nbsp;

"A letter was submitted to the agency yesterday regarding the start of certain activities," said Salehi, a vice president and head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation.

"If conditions allow, maybe tomorrow night at Natanz, we can announce the opening of the centre for the production of new centrifuges" for uranium enrichment, he said, quoted by conservative news agency Fars.&nbsp;

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, said he had ordered preparations for enrichment, should the 2015 nuclear deal fail completely. He said the country had the capacity to accelerate production of centrifuges, which are used to enrich uranium.

President Donald Trump pulled America out of the deal last month.

He said he would initiate new sanctions on Iran, ripping up the touchstone agreement negotiated by his predecessor, Barack Obama.

Since then, Khamenei and other Iranian officials have been on the attack, threatening to increase uranium enrichment.

European countries and China have said they will stand by the existing nuclear accord. But fears are growing in Tehran that European leaders will be unable to prevent Washington from reimposing sanctions on European companies, which would badly damage Iran's oil economy.

The bloc's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini last month&nbsp;said, the European Union (EU) wants to preserve the landmark Iran nuclear deal for security interests.

Since the day the United States (US) pulled out of the deal, Mogherini, on different occasions, assured Iran saying, as long as Iran abides by all its nuclear-related commitments, the EU will stick to the deal.

Nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi made notified the agency in a letter submitted on Monday

Iran, on Tuesday, told the International Atomic Energy Agency that it has started a plan to increase its uranium enrichment capacity. Nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi notified the agency in a letter submitted on Monday. "A letter was submitted to the agency yesterday regarding the start of certain activities," said Salehi, a vice president and head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation. "If conditions allow, maybe tomorrow night at Natanz, we can announce the opening of the centre for the production of new centrifuges" for uranium enrichment, he said, quoted by conservative news agency Fars. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, said he had ordered preparations for enrichment, should the 2015 nuclear deal fail completely. He said the country had the capacity to accelerate production of centrifuges, which are used to enrich uranium. President Donald Trump pulled America out of the deal last month. He said he would initiate new sanctions on Iran, ripping up the touchstone agreement negotiated by his predecessor, Barack Obama. Since then, Khamenei and other Iranian officials have been on the attack, threatening to increase uranium enrichment. European countries and China have said they will stand by the existing nuclear accord. But fears are growing in Tehran that European leaders will be unable to prevent Washington from reimposing sanctions on European companies, which would badly damage Iran's oil economy. The bloc's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini last month said, the European Union (EU) wants to preserve the landmark Iran nuclear deal for security interests. Since the day the United States (US) pulled out of the deal, Mogherini, on different occasions, assured Iran saying, as long as Iran abides by all its nuclear-related commitments, the EU will stick to the deal.

Iran tells UN it will hike uranium-enrichment capacity

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