Iran opens new centrifuge-parts workshop at Natanz

Iran is operating a new workshop at its Natanz nuclear site that makes centrifuge parts.

The Reuters news agency said, referring to a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) published on Thursday.

"On 13 April 2022, Iran informed the Agency that the machines would start operating at the new workshop the same day," the report said, without saying whether it had verified that the machines had started operating. According to the agency, Iran has recently removed the centrifuge parts from a nuclear workshop in the Karaj city of Natanz, which has been closed.

In its report to member states, the IAEA said it had finished installing surveillance cameras at the location on April 12. The agency did not say where Natanz that location was.

The IAEA does not have access to the data collected by cameras and other monitoring equipment from some locations, such as centrifuge-parts workshops.

In its quarterly report on September 7, 2021, the IAEA indicated that the stocks of 60% enriched uranium in Iran increased from 2.4 kg to 10 kg. On June 15 of the same year, the Iranian government announced that the country has enriched 108 kg of uranium by up to 20%.

Iran began enriching uranium to 60% in a response to sabotage at a nuclear facility in the city of Natanz on April 11, 2021, which, according to Tehran, was committed by Israel. Representatives of the Iranian authorities have repeatedly stated that the enrichment is carried out for peaceful purposes and under the supervision of the IAEA. According to the nuclear deal approved in 2015, Iran has the right to enrich the atom to no more than 3.67%.