Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 1 June 2019

UN atomic watchdog raises questions of Iran’s centrifuge use

By KIYOKO METZLER yond the purity allowed
Associated Press under nuclear deal. And
VIENNA (AP) — The U.N. about a week ago, Iran
atomic watchdog said Fri- said it had increased its
day that Iran continues to uranium-enrichment pro-
stay within the limitations duction capacity, though
set by the 2015 nuclear only of the lower-enriched
deal with major powers, uranium permitted by the
but reported its stockpiles agreement. In its first quar-
of low-enriched uranium terly report since those an-
and heavy water are grow- nouncements, however,
ing and raised questions for the Vienna-based IAEA
the first time about Iran’s found Iran continued to
adherence to a key provi- be in compliance and also
sion intended to limit the said its inspectors had been
country’s use of advanced given unfettered access to
centrifuges. Iranian nuclear facilities.
In a confidential quarterly In this June 6, 2018, file frame from Islamic Republic Iran Broadcasting, IRIB, state-run TV, three “Timely and proactive co-
report distributed to mem- versions of domestically-built centrifuges are shown in a live TV program from Natanz, an Iranian operation by Iran in provid-
ber states and seen by uranium enrichment plant, in Iran. ing such access facilitates
The Associated Press, the Associated Press implementation of the ad-
International Atomic En- ing 5,060 older-model IR-1 ment on the report said to keep Tehran from build- ditional protocol and en-
ergy Agency said Iran has centrifuges. the technical discussions ing atomic weapons in ex- hances confidence,” the
stayed within key limita- But in a footnote, the agen- on the centrifuges were change for economic in- report stated, referring to
tions set in the so-called cy said that “up to 33” more between the deal’s signa- centives. It has been com- the procedure detailing
Joint Comprehensive Plan advanced IR-6 centrifuges tories and Iran, but would plicated by the unilateral safeguards and tools for
of Action, or JCPOA, for have been installed, and not elaborate. “It is being withdrawal of the United verification.
uranium and heavy water that “technical discussions discussed, and we report States from the deal last The senior diplomat said
stockpiles. in relation to the IR-6 centri- the facts that we see,” the year and Washington’s in- Iran does have the capac-
But while in past reports the fuges are ongoing.” diplomat said. creased sanctions, which ity to quadruple uranium
IAEA said Iran’s research Under terms of the nuclear The diplomat said last has been taking a toll on enrichment as it recently
and development on en- deal, Iran is allowed to test month that Iran had begun the Iranian economy. threatened, but that in-
richment “has been con- no more than 30 of the IR-6, installing a chain of 20 IR-6 That has left the other sig- spectors would have to
ducted using centrifuges but only 8 1/2 years into the centrifuges at its under- natories — Germany, Brit- wait until the next report
within the limits defined in deal. ground Natanz enrichment ain, France, Russia and Chi- to determine whether they
the JCPOA,” the Friday re- Iran maintains that it is al- facility. Iranian officials say na — struggling to come had actually set that in-
port instead changed the lowed to install the cen- the IR-6 can enrich 10 times up with enough incentives crease in motion.
wording to say it “has been trifuges. The head of the faster than an IR-1. to keep Iran in the deal. “They have the flexibility,
conducted using centrifug- Atomic Energy Organiza- “The feed line is under Earlier this month, Iran an- they can increase and they
es specified in the JCPOA.” tion of Iran, Ali Akbar Salehi, agency seal,” the diplo- nounced that if a way can reduce, and they can
A centrifuge is a device said they were not yet be- mat said, adding it was up couldn’t be found within do a number of things,” the
that enriches uranium by ing fed with uranium. to partner countries in the 60 days to shield it from diplomat said. “The capac-
rapidly spinning uranium A senior diplomat who deal to determine whether U.S. sanctions targeting its ity is always there, and we
hexafluoride gas. Under spoke on condition of ano- the installation was a viola- economy and oil industry, do verify this at a technical
the atomic accord, Iran nymity because he wasn’t tion of the accord. it would ramp up its en- level, we are fully monitor-
has been limited to operat- officially allowed to com- The nuclear deal is meant richment of uranium be- ing that.”q

Police: Suicide car bomb hits Afghan capital, kills 4

By AMIR SHAH Forces located nearby. ful, blowing out windows
Associated Press Firdous Faramaz, Kabul po- in neighboring buildings.
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) lice chief spokesman, said Traffic on the streets was
— A car bomb targeting a four Afghan civilians were light because the bombing
U.S. convoy exploded early killed and three wounded occurred on a Friday, the
Friday in an eastern Kabul in the attack. weekly day off. On Thurs-
neighborhood, leaving four Bob Purtiman, public af- day, six people were killed
Afghan civilians dead and fairs officer with the U.S. when a suicide bomber
three wounded and lightly military in Kabul, said four blew himself up outside an
wounding four American U.S. service members re- Afghan army academy
forces, authorities said. It ceived minor injuries. The and training center, also
was the second suicide one-line statement did not in the same area but sev-
attack in as many days to elaborate. In a telephone eral kilometers (miles) away
rattle the Afghan capital. interview, Taliban spokes- from Friday’s explosion.
The suicide bomber struck man Zabihullah Mujahid The Interior Ministry on Thurs-
as the convoy passed took responsibility for Fri- day said a soldier had no- A burned out vehicle sits at the site of a suicide attack in Kabul,
through Kabul’s eastern day’s attack on the U.S. ticed a suspicious person, Afghanistan, Friday, May 31, 2019. A suicide car bomb exploded
Yakatot neighborhood, convoy in Kabul, claiming and as he approached him early Friday morning in an eastern neighborhood of the capital
where U.S. and NATO forc- 10 U.S. soldiers were killed. the attacker detonated his Kabul, leaving seven casualties, police said.
es maintain complexes. Taliban claims are often ex- explosives near the acad- Associated Press
Facilities operated by the aggerated. Witnesses said emy. The soldier’s action Both the Taliban and an infiltrated the capital in the
Afghan National Security the explosion was power- likely saved lives. Islamic State affiliate have past.q