Hassan Rouhani announces the opening of the second phase of the Barak heavy water production facility • Defiant: "We have made 133 upgrades of our nuclear capability in the past year" • Emphasized: "Our nuclear program is for peace, contrary to what another nation has done in Japan"
Works at a nuclear reactor in Iran
Photo:
AP
Message to Washington:
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani today (Saturday) announced the opening of the second phase of the heavy water production facility in Iraq, as well as further developments in the nuclear field - all in violation of the nuclear agreement Iran signed with the powers it negotiated with the United States In Vienna.
"In the past year, we have made 331 upgrades to our nuclear capabilities, including the flow of gas to the centrifuges at the Natanz underground complex, and the initial activation of advanced hubs," the president said in a statement to the media.
According to him, the new IR9 concentrates are "dozens of times more efficient than those we used earlier."
Rouhani attacked the United States, saying, "Our enemies are concerned about our nuclear program, while all of our nuclear capabilities are for peaceful purposes. These capabilities have not been used as another nation has done in Japan. All of our nuclear operations are legal and within the framework of the nuclear deal."
Rouhani complained about the conduct of the International Atomic Energy Agency, claiming that the organization had not helped Iran develop its nuclear program, as it had previously promised.
