According to reports, unnamed diplomatic sources said on Tuesday that Iran is again building centrifuges that can be used to produce enriched uranium, a move that violates the ban by the UN nuclear watchdog and is also a blatant challenge to the international community's oversight of Iran's nuclear program.
The diplomats said that Iran has not yet resumed uranium enrichment using the centrifuges, otherwise the consequences would be even more dire. Nevertheless, Iran's resumption of centrifuge construction will push European countries to adopt a tougher stance closer to that of the United States on this issue.
The United States has been accusing Tehran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons and hopes the UN Security Council will pay attention to this issue. Iran denies the US accusations, claiming that these centrifuges are part of a peaceful nuclear program solely for energy development.
Last year, Iran signed an agreement with Britain, France, and Germany, agreeing to halt uranium enrichment and centrifuge construction. However, according to the diplomats, the relevant ban was broken a few weeks ago when Tehran, angered by intense international scrutiny of its nuclear program, began violating the International Atomic Energy Agency's regulations on enrichment equipment. Subsequently, Iranian officials resumed assembling and installing centrifuges, which can enrich uranium fuel for developing nuclear warheads.
The diplomats said that the resumption of centrifuge construction reflects Iran's contempt for the international ban. Over the past year, the International Atomic Energy Agency has been conducting strict inspections in Iran, and in June of this year, the agency also accused Tehran of being evasive on many related issues.
