Iran’s stockpile of 60%-enriched uranium reaches 25 kilograms: , AEOI spokesman

Spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi says the country’s stockpile of uranium enriched to a purity level of 60 percent has reached 25 kilograms, noting that Iran has also produced over 210 kilograms of 20%-enriched uranium.

According to Press TV, speaking on the sidelines of the exhibition of Iran's nuclear achievements in Tehran on Friday, Kamalvandi said the Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions, a law passed last December by the Iranian Parliament, has allowed the AEOI to enhance its peaceful nuclear activities.

According to the Parliament’s law, the AEOI was required to produce at least 120 kilograms of 20-percent enriched uranium annually, while the country’s stockpile has now exceeded 210 kilograms, Kamalvandi highlighted.

The AEOI spokesman noted that Iran has also produced 25 kilograms of 60-percent enriched uranium until now.

He said Iran is now among few countries in the world that can enrich uranium to such a level of purity.

“The nuclear industry is a strong field. It is the source of authority and pride of the country. Arrogant countries have now acknowledged that they can no longer deprive the Islamic Republic of Iran of the industry,” the senior Iranian official pointed out.

“The industry dominates all other industries and can propel them. Its quality and standards are much higher than other industries. Once you master the industry, you are in fact paving the way for other industries to advance,” he added.

Kamalvandi said the enemies knew the industry was of high importance for the Islamic Republic of Iran's peaceful progress, but they were trying to deprive it of the technology while politicizing the nuclear issue.

“They have politicized the nuclear issue and accused us of seeking nuclear weapons, while they themselves possess nuclear weapons and have used them,” he commented.

Kamalvandi also underscored that the Iranian Foreign Ministry is in charge of negotiations aimed at removal of sanctions imposed against the Islamic Republic, whilst the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran only deals with technical issues.

SS