Iran's Response to AP Report: No Request from the EU Regarding Rotors

In response to a report by the Associated Press on Friday regarding the European Union's request for Iran to provide details on the manufacturing of centrifuge components to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran accused the news agency of 'fabrication' and claimed it had not received such a request. On Friday, September 16, the Associated Press reported that the EU, in a statement, asked Iran to provide information related to the manufacturing of centrifuge components that could be used in the development of nuclear weapons to the IAEA. The AP noted that the draft of this statement, which is to be sent to Iran ahead of next week's IAEA Board of Governors meeting, was seen by the agency on Friday. However, Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, accused the news agency on Saturday, September 17, in an interview with the Young Journalists Club affiliated with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, of having 'a long history of fabrication' and of having previously engaged in similar fabrications regarding Iran's nuclear industry. Kamalvandi added that 'this media outlet presents the views of certain individuals as the position of the EU and somewhat exploits it, and it should be correctly stated that this request is the opinion of the Associated Press.' The AP report on Friday reminded that the agency must monitor how many rotor tubes Iran has manufactured for which models of centrifuges to ensure that they are only made for the specified number and machines mentioned in the July 2015 agreement. The report also emphasized that any additional production of rotor tubes could indicate a potential Iranian program to develop advanced centrifuges beyond the imposed limits. Nevertheless, the spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran stated that 'the rotor is part of the centrifuge, and it is currently unclear why these media outlets are focusing on this ambiguous issue.' According to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran will have 5,060 centrifuges, which can only be used to enrich uranium to a level of 3.7 percent. The JCPOA also stipulates that Iran must use only old machine parts for the repair of these devices. The IAEA had published a new report on Thursday, September 8, regarding the implementation of the JCPOA, stating that it had not observed any clear violations of this agreement by Iran. However, the agency's report noted that there is a 'potential concern' regarding Iran starting the construction of 'rotor tubes' for centrifuges used for uranium enrichment. Iran is allowed to do this under the terms of the JCPOA, but it has accepted limitations in this regard. Regarding Iran's action to manufacture rotors, Mark Fitzpatrick, executive director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Washington, previously told Radio Farda that 'the concern is whether Iran even needs to produce rotors, as the country has thousands of inactive centrifuges stored away, with only about five thousand active centrifuges, and it can use the others for issues like replacing parts and repairs.' Fitzpatrick noted earlier this year that 'Iran has not yet acted in this regard and has only informed the agency of its intention to do so, and it is unclear whether this intention is for producing first-generation centrifuge rotors or for advanced models for which Iran has accepted strict limitations based on the JCPOA for research and development.' This strategic expert, who has closely followed Iran's nuclear file for years, also reminded that 'questions surrounding research and development and new rotors are legitimate, but so far Iran has not violated its commitments, and that it has previously informed the agency of its intentions is an example of transparency.'