Iran says it has begun reducing limitations imposed by nuclear deal

Iranian nuclear agency spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi spoke about Iran’s nuclear plans this morning. Here’s what he has said so far:

Iran began reducing its nuclear commitments on Friday in retaliation for America’s breach of the 2015 nuclear deal.

“We have started lifting limitations on our Research and Development imposed by the deal… it will include development of more rapid and advanced centrifuges… all these steps are reversible if the other side fulfills its promises,” Kamalvandi said in a televised news conference.

Iran says its centrifuges will contribute to Tehran’s nuclear material accumulation and that in the next two months, 164 chain machines of IR4 centrifuges will become operational. 20 IR4-type centrifuges have already become operational and Tehran will use more advanced and rapid centrifuges as part of its new nuclear steps, he said.

Kamalvandi said that Iran’s decision to decrease nuclear commitments is reversible if other parties fulfill promises, and that it will only remain committed to the 2015 nuclear deal if other parties do so. Iran says the clock is ticking for other parties to salvage the deal. However, he claimed that Tehran’s nuclear steps are not in violation, but that Iran cannot remain unilaterally committed to the deal.

Iran has the capacity to enrich uranium beyond 20%, but has no plans to do so as of now, according to Kamalvandi. He also said that Tehran has no plans to limit the International Atomic Energy Agency’s access to its nuclear sites.

The Islamic Republic reportedly briefed a UN nuclear watchdog on its new nuclear measures.

Part of Iran’s plan is to develop new centrifuges for research, but it has no need to build the machines now.

This is a developing story.