Tweet

laurence norman

11 Nov, 10 tweets, 4 min read

Iran enriched uranium stockpile continues to grow, now up to 2443 kg, far over 10 times permitted amount in #IranDeal tho the increase in last 3 months was moderate 338kg. Also Iran installing various advanced centrifuges in nuke facilities though not feeding some with uranium-1-

IAEA, in latest quarterly report, also called Iran explanation for the uranium found at Turquzabad site in 2019 "not technically competent." Said Iran needs to provide a "full and prompt" explanation for material found. -2-

In the report's final footnote, IAEA sneaks in some very interesting info. The "compositions of these isotopically altered particles are similar to particles found in
Iran in the past, originating from imported centrifuge component." Specifically, from #Pakistan.

@iaeaorg

Here is the 2008 report the @iaeaorg footnote refers to. It's paragraph 11. iaea.org/sites/default/…

Total enriched uranium stockpile comprises 215kg of uranium enriched up to 3.67% U-23548 and 2228kg of uranium enriched up to 4.5% U-235...That includes 693 kg enriched up to 2% U-235. NB: the latter amount not useful for further enrichment to higher/weapons grade purity.

So long story short in report: Positives: Iran still enriching only up to 4.5%, its production in last 3 months was less than it had been producing before and seems to be fully cooperating with agency in normal ways. The negatives: massively over 2015 deal limits...

@iaeaorg

more centrifuges being moved in place to increase rate of production (not clear how much) and Iran continuing to tell porkies to IAEA about equipment found at Turquzabad. I'd note @iaeaorg cite a letter sent Monday saying Iran's explanations "not technically competent."

Remind everyone there is nothing to suggest material found in Iran was not from a likely nuke weapons program that ran in 1990s and early 2000s (Iran denies any program) The agency hasn't said it is 100% sure it's OLD material but almost everyone thinks so. That's important.

@iaeaorg

CORRECTS: APOLOGIES but the report says "not technically credible" explanations. Not competent. My bad. #Iran @iaeaorg

@iaeaorg

Here’s our Updated story as #Iran, reacting to US maximum pressure sanctions, moves further into #IranDeal non-compliance and Tehran frustrates @iaeaorg probe into nuclear material at Turquzabad site. wsj.com/articles/irans…

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

More from @laurnorman

laurence norman

@laurnorman

9 Nov

@JosepBorrellF

Interesting lines from @JosepBorrellF on Trans-atlantic relations to come. Frank, as usual. "It is standard diplomatic practice to avoid expressions of political preference. However...It is no secret that the past four years have been complicated in terms of EU-US relations"-1-

"They were marked by numerous policy disagreements. And we even saw some of the principles that we considered as the bedrock of the transatlantic partnership being eroded, and sometimes even emptied of their substance." -2-

"So, we welcome the chance to work once again with a US President who doesn’t consider us a ‘foe’ or believes the EU has been ‘set up to take advantage of the US’." -3-

Read 6 tweets

laurence norman

@laurnorman

20 Aug

E3 have just circulated letter to UNSC presidency and issued statement rejecting US SnapBack move.

“France, Germany and the United Kingdom (“the E3”) note that the US ceased to be a participant to the JCPoA following their withdrawal from the deal on May 8, 2018.
Our position regarding the effectiveness of the US notification pursuant to resolution 2231 has consequently...”

been very clearly expressed to the Presidency and all UNSC Members.
We cannot therefore support this action which is incompatible with our current efforts to support the JCPOA.” France Germany. Britain #IranDeal SnapBack statement. 3/3

Read 9 tweets

laurence norman

@laurnorman

24 Jul

EU has agreed conclusions to take its announced sanctions measures over Hong Kong. Still needs to get through a written procedure expiring Tue evening. Conclusions call for national asylum, visa, residence & migration measures, further limiting exports of sensitive equipment-1-

and technologies which can be used for internal repression, interception of internal comms or cyber-surveillance; explore scholarships for HK students, univs; ensuring observation of trials of pro-democracy activitists; reviewing impact of security law on extradition; -2-

freezing any negotiations on any new initiatives with HK; discussing at EU level risks of national sec. law on EU citizens; engaging and supporting HK civil society. EU warns will be closely watching Sep elections to see if organised in freedom, matching Basic Law commitments-3-

Read 6 tweets

laurence norman

@laurnorman

5 Feb

@rafaelmgrossi

OK - this is by far the most interesting thing @rafaelmgrossi has said. Context here is probably less #Iran nuke deal breaches but the Agency probe into safeguards violations at Turquz Abad. (Here for context: wsj.com/articles/iran-…). Grossi says "of course my preoccupation" -1-

@rafaelmgrossi

@rafaelmgrossi ...is to make sure that I have all the conditionss to do my job. So one thing I need, not only from Iran of course, but from all the others is that they support me when I request Iran to work with us...I hope that countries will give me the necessary support that I will need.."-2

@rafaelmgrossi

@rafaelmgrossi "...when moments of difficulty will come...- if this happens – when I may have to ask '#Iran to do the right thing. We are at a complex juncture, as you know...I don’t get into the political realm and I shouldn’t - I hope the political dialogue that is taking place"-3-

Read 8 tweets

laurence norman

@laurnorman

5 Nov 19

Important note on #Fordow. You can inject gas for... 1) enriching uranium with uranium gas (clear JCPOA breach) 2) injecting surrogate gas like sulphur into centrifuges for mechanical testing (not a JCPOA breach) 3) for isotope production which Iran is allowed to do there 1/2

@HassanRouhani

My understanding is @HassanRouhani was not clear which one they were doing.But my understanding also that #Iran hasn't (with Russia help) finished transforming machines for isotope production and using surrogate gas wld contaminate centrifuges. So uranium enrichment makes sense-2

@HassanRouhani

@HassanRouhani This according to Iran's IRNA is text of @HassanRouhani remarks. Nowhere here does Rouhani say Iran will start enriching uranium. Only injecting gas. Again, it is very likely Iran is going to start enriching uranium -- why else wld it announce this as latest step? but 3/4

Read 5 tweets

Support us! We are indie developers!

This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!