4 Jul 2019 11:52

Iran exceeds voluntary LEU stock limits - Russian envoy to IAEA

MOSCOW. July 4 (Interfax) - There are no limits on Iran's low-enriched uranium (LEU) monitored by the international regulator; it was Tehran that volunteered to restrict the LEU amount to 300 kilograms under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Russian Permanent Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other international organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov said.

"Diplomats and mass media continue to discuss excession by Iran of 300 kg limit on low enriched uranium. For objective assessment one should not forget that in principle there are no limits on the amount of LEU for NPT States Parties, provided that LEU remains under international control," Ulyanov wrote on Twitter on Thursday.

"Iran voluntarily accepted the limit on LEU as a part of Iran Deal, which is fundamentally undermined by US sanctions. In response to illegal oil embargo Tehran decided to deviate from this voluntary commitment. We are not enthusiastic about that, but reasons are understandable," he said.

Iran said on May 8 it would stop exporting excessive amounts of low-enriched uranium and heavy water, since European countries had failed to honor some of their JCPOA obligations, primarily the launch of the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) and its application to oil trade. Iran gave Europe 60 days to keep the promises and threatened it would start to produce uranium at amounts higher than stipulated by the deal, as well as would reactivate the heavy water reactor in Arak.

The IAEA confirmed on Monday that Iran had exceeded the 300-kilogram LEU limit envisaged by the JCPOA. The Iranian authorities reiterated its statement.