Iran is launching a new array of 30 advanced IR-6 centrifuges on Monday, the country's nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi told state television, scaling back Tehran's commitments under a nuclear agreement with major powers.
Iran announced in October its decision to operationalize advanced centrifuges as a symbolic step to boost its uranium enrichment, to show its ”resolve” and ability in the face of what it says is the West’s retreat from the 2015 nuclear deal known as JCPOA.
"Today, we are witnessing the launch of the array of 30 IR-6 centrifuges," Salehi, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, said. He added that the move would show Iran's "capacity and determination".
The United States last year withdrew from Iran's 2015 nuclear accord with world powers and reimposed sanctions. Iran responded by gradually scaling back its commitments under the agreement and has said it could take further steps in November.
Iran also said Monday its enriched uranium production has reached five kilograms per day, more than 10 times the level two months ago when it abandoned a number of commitments to the 2015 nuclear deal.
Iran has also developed two new advanced centrifuges, one of which is undergoing testing, Salehi announced at the Natanz facility in central Iran.
With reporting by Reuters, AFP
