Iran has no intention of enriching uranium above 20% level: AEOI chief

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Fereydoun Abbasi says Iran has no intention of enriching uranium above the 20 percent level.

Abbasi told reporters on Monday that Iran started producing 20 percent enriched uranium when it could not obtain fuel for Tehran Research Reactor from the international market due to the sanctions imposed against the country.

Abbasi made the remarks after the annual meeting of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) members in the Austrian capital, Vienna.

The head of AEOI said most of Iran’s enrichment activities are conducted at the 3.5 percent level but added that in the future, Tehran will determine its enrich level according to its needs.

The Iranian official added that the objective of 20 percent enrichment is to produce radiopharmaceuticals, but certain parties are trying to connect Iran’s nuclear activities to non-civilian purposes.

The United States, Israel and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.

Iran argues that as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of IAEA, it is entitled to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities, but has never found any evidence indicating diversion in Tehran’s nuclear energy program toward military purposes.