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A quick explanation on this story -- what it means, what it doesn't mean. This is an interview that @Tasnimnews_Fa did with Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI). So, its a public warning.
There is an english version out now. It looks basically the same as the Farsi version, but there are few little differences. tasnimnews.com/en/news/2019/0…
Iran is increasing the pace at which it produces low-enriched uranium, which it is allowed to do under the JCPOA. Iran is not, according to Kamalvandi, increasing the number of centrifuges nor the level of enrichment above 3.67 percent, both of which would violate the JCPOA.
The bad news is that the increased rate of production means that Iran will soon exceed the 300 kg limit on accumulated LEU set out in Annex 1, ¶ 56. "We will reach the cap of 300 kilograms within few weeks," he said.
That's not a total surprise -- Iran's President, Hassan Rouhani, had already stated that Iran would no longer export LEU to stay below the 300 kg limit. Today's announcement sets a timeline -- Iran will exceed the limit in a matter of weeks.
iranprimer.usip.org/blog/2019/may/…
iranprimer.usip.org/blog/2019/may/…
Kamalvandi is pretty clear about that strategy. In the Farsi text, he describes the step as a "message" to the other parties to resolve the situation. He also warns that next Iran will take the two additional steps outlined by Rouhani.
Those steps are both bad: increasing the level of enrichment to 20% and resuming construction of the Arak heavy water reactor under its original design. Both would be significantly worse in terms of their effect on the JCPOA and nonproliferation than exceeding the 300 kg limit.
