Iran has officially resumed uranium enrichment at the Fordo nuclear facility. This was reported by Iran's Atomic Energy Agency. There were no further confirmations for it so far. The resumption in Fordo 180 kilometers south of Tehran represents another step towards the country's departure from the international nuclear agreement.
With the nuclear agreement signed in 2015, uranium enrichment had been suspended in Fordo's underground facility. The number of centrifuges in the Fordo and Natans plants has been reduced. According to the agreement, Iran would not have been allowed to expand uranium enrichment until 2025 (read more about the conflict here).
US President Donald Trump left international nuclear deal with Iran in May 2018 and has been pursuing a policy of "maximum pressure" on Tehran ever since.
Iran initially continued with the agreements, hoping to rescue them with the remaining contractors Germany, France, Great Britain, Russia and China. However, on the first anniversary of Trump's resignation, Iran announced its intention to gradually reduce its commitments.
Criticism of Maas
President Hassan Rohani said on Tuesday that his country would resume uranium enrichment in Fordo. It is the "fourth stage" of the gradual withdrawal from the nuclear agreement. The EU and Russia reacted with concern. 2000 kilograms of uranium gas have been transported to the nuclear facility Fordo, the nuclear organization said shortly before.
Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) had condemned Iran's decision as "unacceptable". Tehran put the step "the nuclear agreement on the line". He called on Iran to "return to full fulfillment of its obligations." The goal is still to maintain the agreement.
The US government accused Tehran after the announcement of the continuation of "nuclear blackmail".
