Iran to Mass-Produce Homegrown Centrifuge Machines: Nuclear Chief

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi unveiled plans for the mass production of the fourth and fifth generations of homegrown centrifuge machines used for enriching uranium.

In comments at a televised program on Tuesday, Salehi said Iran will press ahead with research and development plans in the nuclear industry and mass-produce IR-4 and IR-5 centrifuge machines.

He added that a newer generation of centrifuges, IR-6, is undergoing tests, and that although nuclear scientists have announced that the country can now have three IR-8 centrifuges, the AEOI will wait for a couple of months before producing them.

Salehi further stated that Iran is in possession of the necessary material to enrich uranium to a purity level of 20 percent.

Earlier this month, Salehi said the country has broken new ground in the field of nuclear technology and is taking preliminary steps toward production of 20-percent modern nuclear fuel.

Back in June 2018, Salehi had announced that Iran had developed the necessary infrastructure at the Natanz nuclear facility for enrichment of uranium up to a level of one million SWU.

The Natanz nuclear complex in central Iran has been configured to accommodate 48,000 centrifuge machines, he said, explaining that the work to enhance the capacity of uranium enrichment and open new units for assembling the new generation of centrifuge machines had begun even before the achievement of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

In early June 2018, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei ordered the AEOI to make preparations for the enrichment of uranium up to a level of 190,000 SWU without any delay in the framework provided by the JCPOA.

In May 2018, the US president pulled his country out of the JCPOA, which was achieved in Vienna in 2015 after years of negotiations among Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany).

Iran Has Plenty of Ways to Sell Oil

There are several approaches available for Iran to sell its oil despite the US sanctions, President Hassan Rouhani said, stressing that Tehran proudly circumvents the embargoes.

In comments at a weekly cabinet session on Wednesday, Rouhani said while the enemies attempt to hinder Iran’s oil exports and banking interaction, Iran is pursuing various methods and ways to sell its oil.

“We proudly get around the US sanctions,” he underlined.

Despite all the plots against the Islamic Revolution, the US’ illegal sanctions have failed to achieve their objectives, the president said, adding, “All countries know that such cruel and illegal sanctions are against the Iranian nation, not against any individual, institution or state organization. They only exert pressure on the Iranian people.”

The US government imposed a new round of sanctions on Iran in November 2018.

In May last year, the US president pulled his country out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear deal that was achieved in Vienna in 2015 after years of negotiations among Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany).

The US had announced plans to drive Iran’s oil exports down to zero, but backed off from its policy and granted waivers to at least 8 countries that import Irania