Iran Poised to Produce Enriched Uranium Metal

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has initiated operations for the production of 20% enriched uranium metal to be used in the Tehran Research Reactor, according to a senior nuclear official.
“AEOI’s plan … was communicated to the International Atomic Energy Agency nine days ago and the operations began immediately,” Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s representative to Vienna-based organizations, was quoted as saying by ISNA. 
He said research and development activity with natural uranium had started three months earlier and the new process will produce fuel plate using uranium enriched to 20% purity. 
“This will significantly improve the quality and quantity of radiopharmaceuticals production and make the Islamic Republic one of the leading counties in nuclear technology,” he added, noting that only a few countries have access to this modern nuclear fuel technology.
The IAEA also confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that it has been informed of Iran’s intention to use uranium enriched up to 20% in making fuel for its Tehran Research Reactor and that “in doing so, as part of a multi-stage process,” it will also produce uranium metal enriched up to 20%.
The enriched uranium will be shipped to the research and development lab at the Isfahan Fuel Fabrication Plant, where it will be converted to uranium tetrafluoride and then to enriched uranium metal before being used to manufacture fuel, according to the statement. 

Vicious Circle 

The development comes amid negotiations to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which lifted international sanctions on Iran in return for curbs on Iran’s nuclear program, including prohibition of all work on uranium metal which can be used to make the core of an atomic bomb, an objective Tehran says will never pursue. 
The deal has been unravelling since the United States pulled out and restored sanctions on Tehran, forcing it to eventually take reciprocal steps away from its commitments. 
Indirect talks in Vienna, Austria, aim to find ways to bring both sides back into compliance. Despite significant progress over six rounds, the negotiations came to a halt when they came to important political decisions. 
Russia’s ambassador to Vienna described the situation as a “vicious circle” where Iran keeps stepping away from the JCPOA and the US maintains its maximum pressure. 
“The only way out of this vicious circle is resumption of #ViennaTalks without delay and full restoration of #JCPOA,” Mikhail Ulyanov said in a tweet. 
The three European powers issued a statement, expressing grave concern about Iran’s move, saying it threatens a successful outcome of the Vienna talks, especially as no date has been set for their continuation. 
“We strongly urge Iran to halt all activities in violation of the JCPOA, without delay and to return to the negotiations in Vienna with a view to bringing them to a swift conclusion,” said the statement by France, Britain and Germany who signed the deal along with the US, Russia and China.
US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price also urged Iran to stop what he called brinkmanship, and return to Vienna “prepared for real talks and in a position to finish the work.” 
He said Washington was not setting a deadline for the talks, but noted that “as time proceeds Iran’s nuclear advances will have a bearing on our view of returning to the JCPOA.”
“It is worrying that Iran is choosing to continue to escalate its non-performance of its JCPOA commitments, especially with experiments that have value for nuclear weapons research,” Price contended. 
“It’s another unfortunate step backwards for Iran.”
Iran denies seeking weapons of mass destruction, maintaining that its nuclear activities are aimed at civilian use.