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2.2 Iran hits out at Israeli ‘lies’ it claims are designed to poison atmosphere of nuclear deal talks
Iran on December 1 accused Israel of attempting to poison the atmosphere at the resumed nuclear deal negotiations in Vienna by spreading lies about Iranian nuclear development activities.
Reports at the weekend claimed Israel had in the past two weeks distributed intelligence to the US and European allies indicating that Iran was moving forward with technical steps to prepare to enrich uranium to 90% purity, the level needed for a nuclear weapon.
Also on December 1, the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), reported that Iran had begun the process of enriching uranium to up to 20% purity with one cascade, or cluster, of 166 advanced IR-6 machines at Fordow fuel enrichment plant. Those machines are very much more efficient than first-generation IR-1 machines.
The IAEA said it was set to “increase the frequency of verification activities at the plant and continue consultations with Iran on practical arrangements to facilitate implementation of these activities”.
Accusing Israel of spreading lies, the Iranian government’s chief spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh wrote on Twitter: “Israeli regime whose existence relies on tension is at it again, trumpeting lies to poison Vienna talks. All parties in the room now face a test of their independence & political will to carry out the job irrespective of the fake news designed to destroy prospects for success.”
In a statement after meeting the French president, Emmanuel Macron, Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid on November 30 claimed Iran was trying to buy time to advance its nuclear programme. Iran denies ever having had an ambition to develop a nuclear weapon. Israel says it is around five years from being able to make one.
The nuclear deal, signed by Iran and six major powers in late 2015, binds Tehran to compliance with measures designed to ensure its nuclear programme remains entirely peaceful in exchange for the removal of sanctions. After the US unilaterally walked out of the deal in May 2018, Iran adopted a policy of gradually implementing JCPOA non-compliance, including more extensive uranium enrichment and stockpiling. The US now wants to get back into the deal but the path to doing that must include agreeing with Iran the sanctions that would be removed if Tehran was to re-establish compliance with the pact. Some disagreements are yet to be resolved on which American sanctions relate to the JCPOA and which do not.
7 IRAN Country Report December 2021 www.intellinews.com