VIENNA: Iran has accelerated its production of enriched uranium in a response to tightening US sanctions on it. Yukiya Amano, Chief of IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency – U.N. atomic watchdog) whose agency is responsible for monitoring Iranian compliance with the nuclear deal, said Iran was now producing more enriched uranium than before, but it was not clear when it might reach stockpile limits set in the pact.
“Yes, (the) production rate is increasing,” he told a news conference but declined to quantify the increase. The assessment of IAEA comes when U.S.-Iranian confrontation is on rise and Washington has tightened sanctions from the start of May on Iran after withdrawing from the Iranian nuclear deal.
Iran said last month that it would quadruple its production of enriched uranium and demanded European countries do more to shield it from sanctions. Iran still affirms to stand by the nuclear deal it has been part with.
(Agencies)
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