EU demands Iran share details of nuclear parts productionSeptember 16, 2016 - 17:28 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Union is demanding that Iran share with the UN atomic agency full details of its manufacture of parts for machines that could be used to make the core of nuclear arms, in a statement reflecting its concern over the sensitive issue, the Associated Press reports. The draft statement was seen by the Associated Press Friday, September 16 ahead of its planned delivery next week at a board meeting of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency and a week after the agency reported that Iran started making rotor tubes for centrifuges in June. It demands the "full cooperation of Iran" on the issue in talks with the IAEA and calls for updates from the agency to the 35-nation IAEA board. Centrifuges are machines that spin uranium into concentrations ranging from low-range reactor fuel to weapons-grade material for the fissile core of a warhead. Iran has 5,060 low-tech centrifuges now producing limited amounts of fuel-grade uranium, and under a nuclear deal reached last year and implemented in January it must use spare parts stripped from old or idle machines to keep them going. Parts for more advanced centrifuges would fall under even tighter regulations. The agency needs to keep a close eye on how many rotor tubes are being made and for what models of centrifuges, to make sure they are being produced only in quantities and for machines allowed under the 2015 agreement. Any overproduction could hint at possible plans by Iran to expand advanced centrifuge testing beyond pact limits. That could be a significant issue, considering enriched uranium is a potential pathway to nuclear arms and more technically sophisticated models can enrich uranium much more quickly than Iran's present mainstay centrifuges, AP says. With Iran generally in line with its obligations under the deal, past EU statements since its implementation have been generally low-key. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Russia provides info about arrested Armenian ex-MP Russian law enforcement agencies have provided information about the arrest of Tigran Urikhanyan. Lemkin Institue slams Pashinyan's “cryptic engagement with Genocide denial” The Lemkin Institute is alarmed over Pashinyan’s statements “questioning Armenia's legal basis to pursue justice against Turkey”. 41 detained as antigovernment protests continue in Yerevan 41 people were detained in Yerevan as people demanding Pashinian’s resignation stage campaigns of civil disobedience. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. |