IAEA confirms Iran’s removal of excess centrifuges from Fordo site

The UN nuclear agency confirms that Iran has removed “excess centrifuges and infrastructure” from the Fordo enrichment facility in line with its commitments under the 2015 nuclear agreement.

According to Press TV, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano made the comment in a statement issued on Monday on the first anniversary of the implementation of the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries.

He confirmed that "on 15 January 2017, the Agency verified that Iran has taken these actions related to Fordo."

“Iran has carried out these steps within the timeframe stipulated under the JCPOA," the IAEA chief said.

The IAEA is monitoring the JCPOA which was signed between Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council - the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China plus Germany on July 14, 2015.

Under the JCPOA, which was implemented on January 16, 2016, Iran undertook to put limitations on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions imposed against Tehran.

The deal requires Iran’s storage of uranium enriched to up to 3.67 percent purity to stay below 300 kilograms. Tehran has also agreed to keep its heavy water stockpile below 130 metric tonnes.

Since the implementation of the JCPOA, the IAEA has confirmed Iran’s compliance to its obligations under the nuclear agreement in several reports.

In his visit to Tehran on December 18, the IAEA director general expressed satisfaction with Iran’s compliance with its commitments.

SS