Iran Launches UF6 Gas Production Plant in Isfahan

On July 6, the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization announced the launch of the UF6 gas production plant in Isfahan, "after 9 years." The EU's foreign policy chief recently stated that the actions announced by Tehran do not violate the JCPOA but "do not help build trust." According to the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, the UF6 production plant in Isfahan "had been practically inactive since 2009 due to a shortage of yellowcake in the country." The organization stated, "After the JCPOA and the import of a large amount of yellowcake, as well as an increase in domestic yellowcake production, the possibility of restarting this plant has arisen." The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic had requested the Atomic Energy Organization to prepare the necessary arrangements for Iran to achieve 190,000 SWU of uranium enrichment "currently within the framework of the JCPOA" and "as soon as possible" after the U.S. announced its withdrawal from the JCPOA. Following this, Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization, stated that the Islamic Republic had informed the International Atomic Energy Agency that it was beginning the process of increasing the necessary capacities for producing UF6 and UF4 gas. Meanwhile, the head of this organization also stated that if Iran exits the JCPOA, it could reach a capacity of 190,000 SWU of enrichment within one and a half to two years. SWU is the unit for separating uranium isotopes. Uranium hexafluoride, with the formula UF6, is a compound used in the uranium enrichment process. There is also another formula called UF4, which is the chemical formula for uranium tetrafluoride. These gases are injected into centrifuges. Some Iranian officials have stated that injecting UF6 into Iran's IR-8 centrifuges is part of "Iran's rights under the JCPOA." Some experts say that based on the limitations outlined in the nuclear agreement and the JCPOA, Iran can effectively move towards 190,000 SWU of enrichment after 15 years, as it cannot have more than five thousand centrifuges. Behrouz Bayat, one of these experts, told Radio Farda that Mr. Khamenei's statements regarding 190,000 SWU enrichment are for "domestic consumption." The spokesperson for the EU's foreign policy on June 5 stated in an interview with Radio Free Europe that the actions announced by Iran to increase enrichment capacity do not violate the JCPOA but do not help build trust regarding the nature of Iran's nuclear program at this "sensitive juncture."