Iran to begin Uranium enrichment with advanced centrifuges

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov 29 (AP): Iran plans to begin uranium enrichment using thousands of advanced centrifuges at its key nuclear facilities, Fordo and Natanz, the United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported on Friday.
This development heightens concerns over Tehran's nuclear program as it continues enrichment close to weapons-grade levels.
According to the IAEA, Iran intends to use the new centrifuges to enrich uranium to 5% purity, which is significantly lower than the 60% it is currently producing.
The move suggests Tehran may still be open to negotiations with the West, even as uncertainties linger regarding how U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will approach Iran after taking office. Trump previously withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear accord in 2018, triggering regional tensions and a series of incidents.
The IAEA's report outlines Iran's plans to use advanced IR-2M, IR-4, and IR-6 centrifuges, which are capable of enriching uranium faster than the older IR-1 models that form the backbone of Iran's nuclear program.
Details on the number of centrifuges in each cascade remain unclear, though past configurations have included up to 160 centrifuges per cascade.
It is uncertain whether Iran has started feeding uranium into the centrifuges. However, by opting for 5% enrichment, Tehran retains leverage in negotiations while reserving the ability to escalate enrichment levels if talks stall. Enrichment at 90% is considered weapons-grade.