Page 17 - MEOG Week 02 2021

MEOG NEWS IN BRIEF MEOG

POLICY not lift financial, banking and oil sanctions by May 2018. The move might complicate efforts
February 21, we will definitely expel the IAEA by US President-elect Joe Biden to rejoin the
Iran to expel nuclear inspectors from the country and will definitely deal.
“I must take it seriously because it’s the
end the voluntary implementation of the
inspectors if sanctions Additional Protocol,” parliamentarian Ahmad law,” Grossi said, referring to new Iranian
Amirabadi Farahani was quoted as saying by
legislation that requires the enrichment and
aren’t lifted several Iranian media outlets. deadline for the inspectors, adding that he
believed the Islamic Republic’s government
His comments refer to texts governing the
Iran will expel nuclear watchdog inspectors of IAEA’s mission and activities. intended to implement the deadline and act
the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency Iran said on early last week that it had on it.
(IAEA) unless US sanctions against the resumed 20% uranium enrichment at an Grossi said Iran was progressing “quite
country are lifted by a February 21 deadline underground nuclear facility. The move is rapidly” in 20% enrichment and that based
set by the hardline-dominated parliament, a another breach of the nuclear pact. However, on estimations it would be able to reach about
lawmaker was cited as saying on January 9. 90% enrichment is needed for weapons-grade 10 kilograms a month at Fordow. Uranium
The move will put pressure on the uranium and Iran says it has never had a refined to 20% fissile purity is well above
incoming Joe Biden administration in the plan to develop a nuclear bomb, something the 5% generally regarded as suitable for
US to act fast from the time it takes office on adversaries such as Israel claim is not the case. producing civilian nuclear energy. It shortens
January 20 if it wants to save the nuclear deal BNE Iran’s potential path to the 90% purity
struck between Iran and six major powers, required for a nuclear bomb. Iran denies any
signed and sealed in 2015 but unilaterally Weeks remain to save intent to weaponise enrichment.
abandoned by outgoing American president The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran
US President Donald Trump in 2018. nuclear deal, says atomic (AEOI) has, meanwhile, started installing
The parliament, which took on a hardline advanced IR2M (20%) centrifuges in defiance
complexion in an early 2020 election, in watchdog chief of the nuclear agreement, Mehr News Agency
November brought in a law that commits the reported on January 11.
government to halting the IAEA inspections The revival of the nuclear deal between Iran Iran has said it will fall back in line
of Iran’s nuclear sites that are required under and six major powers must happen within with the conditions of the nuclear deal as
the nuclear deal, which still boasts Iran, the weeks, UN atomic watchdog chief Rafael soon as Biden scraps the sanctions levied
UK, France, Germany, China and Russia as Grossi said on January 11. on the Islamic Republic by the Trump
signatories. The law also committed Iran to The comments from the head of the administration.
step up uranium enrichment beyond the limit International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) BNE
set under the accord if sanctions are not eased. came after Tehran resumed 20% uranium
Biden has said he will take the US back enrichment and its parliament threatened Kuwait government
into the nuclear deal in line with certain to bar the watchdog’s inspectors from the
conditions, including Iran returning to full country by a deadline of February 21 if the US ministers resign en masse
compliance with the nuclear deal. Iran’s latest does not drop its heavy sanctions against Iran.
standpoint is that Biden should remove the “It is clear that we don’t have many months Kuwait government ministers tendered their
US sanctions prior to a process of bringing ahead of us. We have weeks,” Grossi said in an resignations en masse to Prime Minister
Washington back into the agreement that interview for the Reuters Next conference. Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid on Tuesday, the
need not be hurried. If the sanctions are Iran resumed enriching uranium to 20% Ministry of Information announced on
removed, Iran would quickly agree to once fissile strength at the underground Fordow Twitter.
again fully comply with the deal, according to nuclear plant earlier this month in a further The move came after lawmakers submitted
its foreign ministry. breach of the nuclear pact with major powers a motion in Parliament, asking to question the
“According to the law, if the Americans do since the US unilaterally withdrew from it in premier, local media reported.

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