Iran announced on Friday that it will activate a significant number of new advanced centrifuges to enrich uranium, allegedly prompted by a resolution passed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) criticizing Tehran for lack of cooperation. The IAEA resolution, backed by the United States, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, accused Iran of failing to meet its nuclear transparency obligations.
The IAEA’s 35-nation board of governors adopted the resolution on Thursday, calling on Iran to urgently address concerns about undeclared nuclear material and provide credible explanations for uranium particles detected at two undeclared sites near Tehran—Varamin and Turquzabad. The resolution carried 19 votes in favor, with Russia, China, and Burkina Faso opposing it, 12 abstentions, and Venezuela not participating.
The resolution urged Tehran to cooperate fully to ensure non-diversion of nuclear materials and requested a comprehensive report on its nuclear activities by spring 2025.
Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization and Foreign Ministry issued a joint statement condemning the resolution as politically motivated. They announced that Iran’s nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, had ordered the launch of new and advanced centrifuges, which would significantly increase the country’s uranium enrichment capacity.
Iran stated that the measures align with its national needs and rights under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). It also pledged to continue technical cooperation with the IAEA but warned that its actions are reversible if Western nations de-escalate and resume negotiations.
Behrouz Kamalvandi, a spokesperson for Iran’s atomic energy organization, said on state TV that the new measures would focus on uranium enrichment, which is already being conducted at levels of up to 60% purity—close to the 90% required for a nuclear weapon.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has previously warned that Iran has enough uranium enriched to near-weapons-grade levels to produce multiple nuclear weapons if it chooses to do so. Iran has consistently denied any ambitions to develop nuclear weapons, maintaining that its program is for peaceful purposes.
The activation of new centrifuges marks a further rollback of commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The agreement originally limited Iran to operating older-model centrifuges and enriched uranium to a maximum of 3.67%. However, Iran has gradually abandoned these restrictions since the U.S. withdrew from the deal in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump.
