Exclusive: Iran to enrich uranium until needs are met- AEOI chief
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran announces that it will continue to enrich uranium until the Islamic Republic fulfills all its needs.
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Atomic Energy Organization of Iran spokesperson Behrouz Kamalvandi
The other parties to the nuclear deal realize that Iran is fully committed to implementing the laws of the Shura Council and the strategic measures intended to lift sanctions and protect the interests of the Iranian people, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) spokesperson Bahruz Kamalvandi told Al Mayadeen on Tuesday.
"We launched 1,000 IR6 centrifuges. We previously launched 500 of them and followed up with 500 others. We started pumping gas into the devices yesterday," Kamalvandi added. "The uranium enrichment process will continue until Iran fulfills its needs."
The spokesperson highlighted that Iran informed the International Atomic Energy Agency of its nuclear measures, noting that "if the other parties return to their commitments within the framework of the nuclear agreement, we will return to our commitments also within the framework of the agreement."
On the recent Iranian statements made by AEOI chief Mohammad Eslami, who said the Islamic Republic had the technical ability to build an atomic bomb but such a project is not on its agenda, Kamalvandi clarified that Eslami was misunderstood.
"There is no doubt that Iran's nuclear program has quantitative capabilities, but Iran does not need a nuclear bomb due to its strategic capabilities and the Iranian leader's fatwa. Therefore, we will not head there."
Iranian leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei had declared it forbidden for Iran to develop nuclear weapons. The religious law (fatwa) stated that the production, stockpiling, and use of nuclear weapons were forbidden under Islam.
Meanwhile, the Iranian government says the purpose of its nuclear program is to produce electricity and power to benefit the country's economy.
Iran is currently studying a draft nuclear agreement proposed by the European Union, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Monday.
"Tehran is serious about reaching a good, strong, and stable agreement," the Iranian Foreign Minister said. "If the American side is realistic and has the necessary flexibility in the upcoming negotiations, reaching an agreement will not be out of reach."
