The Tehran government has reopened a nuclear production plant that has allegedly been idle for the past nine years, ordering resumption of operations at the UF6 (uranium hexafluoride) factory located in central Isfahan province.
Technicians began injecting yellow cake into the factory on Wednesday, according to the semi-official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
Iran informed the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in a letter received June 4 of “tenative” plans to produce feedstock (UF6) for uranium-enrichment centrifuges, according to Reuters.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had earlier ordered “speedy preparation of the ground” for enrichment of 190,000 SWU (separative work units).
“Iran will be able to enrich uranium to 3.67 percent in the framework of the nuclear deal famously known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA),” IRNA reported.
“We must show to the world that we endure hardships but will not make concessions on our independence and freedom,” President Hassan Rouhani told a gathering of top executives in Tehran on Wednesday that was broadcast live by national TV.
Rouhani said Iran will never make any concession on its independence in the face of pressure by the United States, adding the Iranian people “will not yield in to the U.S.” and must stand together in order to “bring the U.S. to its knees.”
Rouhani’s comments follow the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and its threats to reimpose anti-Iran sanctions under the landmark agreement. He said the Iranians, through their resistance, will make the “bullying” president of the United States to understand that he chose a wrong way by pulling out of the nuclear agreement.