Iran nuclear deal: Tehran to develop speedier centrifuges Published duration 7 September 2019 Related Topics Iran nuclear deal

image copyright EPA image caption Hassan Rouhani (2nd right) says European partners can save the nuclear deal

Iran says it has begun using new advanced centrifuges to enrich uranium - the latest step in reducing its commitment to a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

Forty such centrifuges were now operational, said nuclear agency spokesman Behruz Kamalvandi.

Enriched uranium can be used to make reactor fuel but also nuclear weapons.

Iran stopped abiding by two commitments in July in response to sanctions the US reinstated when it abandoned the deal.

President Donald Trump wants to force Iran to negotiate a new agreement that would place indefinite curbs on its nuclear programme and also halt its development of ballistic missiles. But Iran has so far refused.

Other countries which are parties to the deal - the UK, France, Germany, China and Russia - have tried to keep it alive. But the sanctions have caused Iran's oil exports to collapse, the value of its currency to plummet, and sent its inflation rate soaring.

The 2015 deal was designed to prevent Iran developing nuclear weapons, though Iran has always denied wanting to do so.

What has the reaction been?

The UK government expressed disappointment.

"This third step away from its commitments under the nuclear deal is particularly disappointing at a time when we and our European and international partners are working hard to de-escalate tensions with Iran," the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said.

French defence minister Florence Parly said France would continue to push Iran to respect the accord.

She was speaking in Paris after talks with her US counterpart, Mark Esper, who said he was not surprised at what Iran was doing.

"They had been violating it, they had violated the nuclear non-proliferation treaty for many years, so it's no surprise that the Iranians are going to pursue what the Iranians have always intended to pursue," he said.

What exactly has Iran done?

Mr Kamalvandi announced the new measures on Saturday.

He told a news conference that Iran's Atomic Energy Agency had activated 20 IR-4 and 20 IR-6 centrifuges - which could enrich high-quality uranium.

New centrifuges would be developed to meet the country's needs, he said.

He added that Iran's steps were reversible - but this depended on other partners returning to their obligations under the deal.

In the meantime, Iran would continue to allow inspections by the global nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The IAEA confirmed on 1 July that Iran had breached the 300kg (660lb) limit on the amount of enriched uranium it is allowed to stockpile.

media caption Feeling the squeeze: Iran sanctions explained

Six days later, Iran began enriching uranium to 4.5% concentration so it could make fuel for its Bushehr power plant - beyond the 3.67% cap enshrined in the nuclear deal. Weapons-grade uranium is 90% enriched or more.

Under the accord, Iran is allowed to operate no more than 5,060 IR-1 centrifuges - the oldest and least-efficient model - until 2026.

It is also permitted to continue research and development in a manner that does not accumulate enriched uranium, and to test more advanced IR-6 and IR-8 centrifuges, which can more quickly enrich uranium. After 2024, it may commence the testing of up to 30 IR-6 centrifuges.

The installation of advanced centrifuges would shorten Iran's so-called "break-out time" - the time required for it to produce enough fissile material for a bomb.

media caption Inside Iran: Iranians on Trump and the nuclear deal

Iranian officials have given a cautious welcome to a French proposal to offer Iran a $15bn (£12bn) line of credit, secured by oil, in return for its full compliance with the nuclear deal. That would allow Iran to obtain foreign currency.