By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch, Middle East
Tehran, Iran – Iran began the process of suspending high levels of uranium enrichment Monday as part of the interim deal, known as the Joint Plan of Action, made between Iran and Six world powers (The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany and the European Union) which officially went into effect on Monday.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed that Iran has stopped its most sensitive nuclear activity in compliance with the deal the state struck with World powers last November. The IAEA report to member states said: “The Agency confirms that, as of 20 January 2014, Iran … has ceased enriching uranium above 5 percent U-235 at the two cascades at the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP) and four cascades at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP) previously used for this purpose.” The report referred to actions taken at Iran’s two enrichment plants in Natanz and Fordow.
Iranian State-run media quoted Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization as saying “the suspension of 20 percent enrichment has started at the Natanz plant and the International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors are going to the Fordow plant.”
As part of the deal Iran stopped the enrichment of uranium to the 20% purity level and disconnected cascades of centrifuges enriching uranium at Natanz. Mohammad Amiri, a director in the Iran’s nuclear agency, said “from now on, the centrifuges which were used for producing 20% enriched uranium will be used for enriching uranium to the 5% purity level.” Iran has been enriching uranium at 20 percent concentration since early 2010, compliance to the interim deal, reducing the increment of Uranium, signifies a major step away from the nuclear weapons capabilities feared by western powers.
Nuclear power is a common sources of electricity, Nuclear power plants use uranium that is enriched to 5% for the generation of electricity. The Iranian government insists that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes, namely the generations of energy for civilian uses, despite the concerns of many members of the international community who fear the program could lead the state towards the development of nuclear weapons capabilities.
According to the United States Department of State the parties involved in the negations with Iran are reviewing a report prepared by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.M Watchdog Group which oversees nuclear programs. IAEA inspectors were present in Iran when the deal went into effect and have provided details of the nuclear activities in Iran today in its report.
Tero Varjoranta, deputy director general of the I.A.E.A., told the press at the agency’s headquarters in Vienna that Iran has provided “good cooperation” so far and that “we have a very robust system in place with Iran” to ensure that the Iranians will continue to comply with the agreement.
In response to Iran’s actions the European Union and the United States have suspended some of the restrictions placed on the Iran as part of though sanctions placed on the state. These restrictions include the petrochemicals, automotive and precious metals industries. The EU and the United States also began the release of $4.2 billion in Iranian frozen assets frozen.
The temporary deal will expire on July 20, the interim deal is intended to lead to a permanent accord after the parties once again enter into negotiations later this year.
For more information please see:
The Jerusalem Post – Iran Halts Higher-Grade Uranium Enrichment, IAEA Report Shows – 20 January 2014
CNN International – Iran Says It’s Implementing Interim Nuclear Deal – 20 January 2014
The New York Times – Temporary Nuclear Deal with Iran Takes Effect – 20 January 2014
USA Today – The Clock Starts On Iran Nuclear Deal – 20 January 2014
CNN International – 20 Questions about the Iran Nuclear Deal: What It Says, What’s At Stake, What’s Next – 25 November 2013
