Iran to start uranium enrichment

By Mustafa Melih Ahishali

TEHRAN (AA) - The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) started preparations for uranium enrichment, which is considered within the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known as the Iran nuclear deal, according to AEOI President Ali-Akbar Salehi at a press briefing on Tuesday.

The announcement came after Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei's order to produce 190,000 centrifuges for the AEOI on Monday.

The start of works for the production of centrifuges comes under the framework of the JCPOA, according to Salehi.

Salehi said if the signatory countries to the nuclear deal do not keep their promises and if they do not remove sanctions, "we plan to have more advanced nuclear activities than agreed with the JCPOA."

He underlined that Iran's nuclear activities are peaceful and in line with the principles of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

U.S. President Donald Trump last month pulled the U.S. out of the nuclear agreement with Iran, claiming that Iran was running a secret program to build nuclear weapons.

The JCPOA was signed between Tehran and world's major powers China, Russia, France, the U.K., and U.S., plus Germany.