Natanz Plant To Begin 60% Uranium Enrichment In Blow To JCPoA Hopes

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi announced to state-run Press TV that the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility, which was the subject of a major cyber attack at the weekend that resulted in an explosion damaging the power supply to enrichment centrifuges, will begin to enrich uranium to 60% purity once new centrifuges are delivered to the site.

• Iran is currently enriching uranium to 20% purity, well above the 3.67% purity allowed by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA, the Iran nuclear deal). To reach weapons grade, Iran would have to enrich uranium to around 90% purity.
• Iran has blamed Israel for the cyber attack. The Israeli gov't has not claimed responsibility but also not directly denied its involvement.
• The ongoing talks in Vienna regarding hopes that the US could be drawn back to the negotiating table on the JCPoA or a similar deal are likely to have been dealt a significant blow by Iran's announcement of heightened uranium enrichment.