Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Announces Testing of IR-8 Centrifuges

On Saturday, February 9, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran announced that it has begun testing the IR-8 centrifuges with the injection of uranium hexafluoride (UF6) as part of the "Vienna nuclear agreement". According to ISNA news agency, this organization stated that based on the orders of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic regarding the "unrestricted continuation of research and development" in Iran's nuclear program and also within the framework of the Vienna nuclear agreement, it has proceeded to test new centrifuges. The report indicates that the IR-8 centrifuges were developed by Iranian scientists and have successfully undergone "mechanical tests" over the past three years. According to the Atomic Energy Organization, the enrichment capacity of these centrifuges is about 20 times that of the first-generation centrifuges known as IR-1. The announcement did not specify the exact timing or number of these centrifuge tests. Under the Vienna nuclear agreement, Tehran has agreed to limit its enrichment capacity at the Natanz facility to a maximum of 5,060 centrifuges for the next ten years. The active type of centrifuges in Iran will also be IR-1, which is among the oldest centrifuges in Iran. Reports indicate that Iran previously had about 19,000 active centrifuges. Meanwhile, the Vienna nuclear agreement stipulates that Iran is allowed to conduct "research and development" on enrichment with IR-4, IR-5, IR-6, and IR-8 machines for up to ten years, but "will not engage in other isotope separation technologies for uranium enrichment." The agreement also included the cessation of enrichment at the Fordow site and its conversion into a research center, the international redesign of the Arak heavy water reactor, the reduction of uranium stockpiles, and regular monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, recently stated in an interview with Al Jazeera that Iran has adhered to its commitments under the Vienna nuclear agreement, and the latest action is the collection of centrifuge-related infrastructure at the Fordow facility. He also emphasized that Iran can "quickly" return to conditions prior to the Vienna nuclear agreement. According to the Vienna nuclear agreement, no enrichment should take place at the Fordow nuclear facility near Qom for 15 years, but Iran can keep about a thousand centrifuges for other uses at this facility. In this context, the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed on Monday, January 27, that Iran has fulfilled another part of its commitments under the nuclear agreement with the international community by collecting and transferring hundreds of centrifuges from the Fordow facility.