Saudi Arabia calls on Tehran to be serious in negotiations and to avoid escalation

IAEA: Iran reduces the number of uranium enrichment equipment to 60%

A session of the Vienna talks on the agreement on the Iranian nuclear program.

Reuters

A report by the International Atomic Energy Agency of the United Nations stated that Iran had reduced the number of centrifuges at the Natanz facility above ground to enrich uranium to 60%, becoming one of two groups previously.

Iran announced the switch to uranium enrichment to 60%, which is a leap towards the degree needed to manufacture weapons from the previous purity rate of 20%.

Iran's move has held the ongoing indirect talks with the United States aimed at salvaging the Iranian nuclear deal.

"On April 21, 2021, the agency confirmed that Iran had changed the production pattern of uranium hexafluoride enriched to 60% of uranium-235 in the experimental nuclear fuel enrichment reactor in Natanz," the report said, referring to the Natanz facility on the ground.

The report added that Iran is now using one set of IR-6 centrifuges that enrich to 60%, and feed the depleted uranium from the process into a set of IR-4 centrifuges, for 20% enrichment.

The IR-4 group was previously used for enrichment of up to 60%.

For its part, Saudi Arabia called yesterday on Iran to engage in the ongoing nuclear negotiations seriously, to avoid escalation, and not to expose the security and stability of the region to more tensions.

The permanent representative of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations, Ambassador Abdullah bin Yahya Al-Mouallimi, stressed in the Kingdom's speech before the UN Security Council in its session held, the night before last, through video communication, the need for the international community to reach an agreement with stronger and longer determinants with the implementation of monitoring and control measures to prevent Iran from Obtaining a nuclear weapon and developing the necessary capabilities for that.

Saudi Arabia indicated that the countries of the region are deeply concerned about the escalatory steps taken by Iran to destabilize regional security and stability.

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