The Islamic Republic announced today (Friday) that it has so far managed to produce 25 kilograms of enriched uranium to a level of 60 percent, far beyond what is required for a civilian nuclear program.
The Iranian regime appears to be trying to increase pressure on the powers after it was announced that nuclear talks would resume on the 29th of Vienna.
The move is further proof of Western concerns, especially among the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which claims that such a level of production is not intended for civilian use. "Bringing Iran closer to levels where development for military use cannot be ruled out."
Nuclear talks in Vienna will resume soon // Photo: AFP,
Iran announces: Nuclear negotiations will resume
The Islamic Republic of Iran has announced that nuclear talks will begin later this month after weeks of uncertainty and hidden clues surrounding the regime's intentions.
"In a telephone conversation with Henrika Moreh (EU Commissioner for Nuclear Talks) we decided to start negotiations with a view to removing the illegal and inhumane sanctions on November 29 in Vienna," tweeted Ali Bagri Kani, Iran's deputy foreign minister.
An official statement from JCPOA announced that "the Joint Committee will convene in physical form on November 29 in Vienna," while stating that "representatives from China, France, Germany, Russia, Britain and Iran will participate."
Also, "Participants will continue discussions on the prospect of a possible United States return to the JCPOA and how to ensure full and effective implementation of the Agreement by all parties."
Ali Khamenei // Photo: EPI,
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State spokesman Ned Price said during a daily briefing that Iranian envoy Robert Mali would attend the nuclear talks and added he expects Iran to be ready to return to negotiations "soon and in good faith."
Khamenei made a decision
After months of rumors surrounding the start of nuclear talks, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei made a decision and ordered a resumption of talks ahead of an agreement with the West.
The announcement was accompanied by a series of troubled events over the past day, the first of which was a statement by General Ali Shimkhani, secretary of Iran's National Security Council, who said "everyone knows how the talks will end if the US does not provide guarantees."
A naval incident later occurred between an Iranian tanker and a U.S. navy in the Gulf of Oman.
The United States has denied the allegations and a U.S. source said: "Iran is trying to spin us."
Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), was the first to greet and wrote on his Twitter account: "Hot news! The long-awaited agreement on the resumption of nuclear talks in Vienna has been reached. They are expected to begin in the Austrian capital on November 29."
