- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday announced Iran will begin developing more advanced centrifuges in what represents its third step away from the 2015 nuclear deal.
- More advanced centrifuges would allow Iran to more rapidly enrich uranium, which could allow it to develop a potential nuclear weapon even faster.
- This comes amid heightened tensions with the US that have raised alarm worldwide, and is designed to place pressure on European countries scrambling to save the 2015 deal.
- Iran wants relief from crippling economic sanctions imposed by the US, and is using the deal as leverage.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday announced Iran will take another step away from the 2015 nuclear deal in a move that increases its ability to rapidly develop nuclear weapons.
Rouhani in a televised speech said that beginning on Friday his country will begin developing more advanced centrifuges that would speed up the enrichment of uranium, Reuters reported.
“From Friday, we will witness research and development on different kinds of centrifuges and new centrifuges and also whatever is needed for enriching uranium in an accelerated way,” Rouhani said.
Under the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran agreed to reduce its number of centrifuges and to use older, less efficient models. Iran had 20,000 centrifuges before the deal but under the agreement could only operate a maximum of 5,060.
Rouhani on Wednesday said, “All limitations on our Research and Development will be lifted on Friday.”
Read the article by John Haltiwanger on Business Insider Australia.