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Iran's nuclear program

Iran to start 60-percent uranium enrichment Wednesday

The diplomat disclosed that Iran plans not only to replace the centrifuges damaged during the recent sabotage at the Natanz nuclear site but "to install an additional 1000 centrifuges of 50% higher enrichment capacity"

© AP Photo/Vahid Salemi

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Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization confirms explosion at Natanz nuclear facility

TEHRAN, April 13. /TASS/. Tehran begins uranium enrichment to 60% on Wednesday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated Tuesday.

According to the report, Iran informed the International Atomic Energy Agency that the country plans to start the 60-percent uranium enrichment on Wednesday.

The diplomat also disclosed that Iran plans not only to replace the centrifuges damaged during the recent sabotage at the Natanz nuclear site but "to install an additional 1000 centrifuges of 50% higher enrichment capacity."

Earlier on Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif disclosed that the current stockpile of enriched uranium in Iran had exceeded four tons. Meanwhile, the enrichment did not exceed 20% until today. Besides, Iranian government spokesman, Ali Rabii disclosed that the damaged IR-1 centrifuges in Natanz will be replaced with IR-6 centrifuges.

The incident at the Natanz nuclear site took place on Sunday. Iran reported that an outage was registered at the site’s power distribution grid, which led to an explosion. There were no victims or environmental damage. The Iranian Atomic Energy Organization head, Ali Akbar Salehi called the incident a "display of nuclear terrorism." The New York Times claimed citing its sources that the explosion was organized by Israel. Later, Zarif also claimed that Israel was involved.

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Iran's nuclear program issue

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