October 26, 2010 shows the inside of reactor at the Russian-built
Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran, 1200 Kms south of
Tehran HAMED MALEKPOUR / FARS NEWS AGENCY / AFP
Iran confirmed Tuesday it is now enriching uranium to 20
percent purity, well beyond the threshold set by its 2015 nuclear
deal with major powers, sparking international
concern.
The move at its underground Fordow facility was confirmed by UN
watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
It was the most striking suspension yet of Iranian commitments
under the landmark deal, a process it started in 2019 in response
to US President Donald Trump’s dramatic withdrawal from the accord
the previous year.
“At around 7 pm (1530 GMT Monday), we reached 20 percent”
enrichment, spokesman Behrouz Kamalavandi told state television in
an interview aired on Tuesday.
swordpress.ng ojoojoo.com search: Iran Warns
Trump Against ‘Adventurism’
Announcing the move on Monday, government spokesman Ali Rabiei
said President Hassan Rouhani had ordered the enrichment “in recent
days” in line with a law passed last month by the
conservative-dominated parliament.
The law “for the lifting of sanctions and protection of the
Iranian people’s interests” mandates Rouhani’s government to
“produce and store 120 kilogrammes (265 pounds) per year of uranium
enriched to 20 percent.”
Foreign Minister Javad Zarif tweeted that “we resumed 20%
enrichment as legislated by our parliament,” adding that the IAEA
had been “duly notified”.
He stressed that Tehran took the step “after years of
non-compliance” by other parties and that “our measures are fully
reversible upon FULL compliance by ALL”.
The step comes less than three weeks before the end of the
presidency of Trump, who has sought to economically punish and
diplomatically isolate Iran with a “maximum pressure” campaign,
including tough sanctions.
The outgoing administration deplored Iran’s plan to step up
uranium enrichment.
“Iran enriching uranium to 20 percent at Fordow is a clear
attempt to increase its campaign of nuclear extortion, an attempt
that will continue to fail,” a State Department spokesperson
said.
The Iranian government has signalled a readiness to engage with
President-elect Joe Biden, who has expressed willingness to return
to diplomacy with Tehran and takes office on January 20.
Iran’s return to enrichment of uranium to 20 percent purity has
triggered international concern because it is seen as a significant
step towards the 90 percent level required for a nuclear
weapon.
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Israel warning
The IAEA confirmed that “Iran today began feeding uranium
already enriched up to 4.1 percent U-235 into six centrifuge
cascades at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant for further enrichment
up to 20 percent”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted angrily and
charged it proved Iran is seeking to build an atomic bomb — a claim
the Islamic republic has always denied.
“Iran’s decision to continue violating its commitments, to raise
the enrichment level and advance the industrial ability to enrich
uranium underground, cannot be explained in any way except as the
continued realisation of its intention to develop a military
nuclear programme,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
“Israel will not allow Iran to manufacture nuclear weapons.”
The European Union said Iran’s enrichment programme would be a
“considerable departure” from the deal.
Russia’s envoy to the IAEA said that Moscow is “not
enthusiastic” about Tehran’s move but emphasised that “there is
nothing to overdramatise”.
“The nuclear programme remains fully transparent and
verifiable,” Mikhail Ulyanov wrote on Twitter. “We should focus on
means to restore comprehensive implementation of the nuclear
deal.”
Bound by law
Iran had on December 31 informed the IAEA that it would begin
producing uranium enriched to up to 20 percent, the level it had
before the nuclear deal was reached.
According to the latest IAEA report available, published in
November, Tehran was previously enriching uranium to levels greater
than the limit provided for in the 2015 Vienna agreement (3.67
percent) but not exceeding the 4.5 percent threshold, and still
complied with the agency’s strict inspection regime.
But there has been turmoil since the assassination in late
November of Iranian nuclear physicist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.
In the aftermath of the attack, blamed on Israel, hardliners in
Tehran pledged a response and the conservative-dominated parliament
passed the new law.
Rouhani had opposed the legislation, describing it as
“detrimental to the course of diplomatic activities.”
Quoted by the government’s website, Rabiei said that the
administration’s stance towards the law is clear, “but the
government considers itself bound to carry out the law”.
AFP
Read more https://swordpress.com.ng/2021/01/05/nuclear-deal-iran-steps-up-uranium-enrichment/
Members of the Presidential Committee on Correctional Reforms
have called for a strategic and holistic approach to the
implementation of the Reforms of Correctional Centres in
Nigeria.
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
Their position was made during programme organised by the
Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) in November
2020, which were part of the last quarter activities between
October and December 2020, presented in the institute’s news
digest.
![image](/2020/10/NWLRland.jpg")
Speaking, the Director General of NIALS, Professor Muhammed
Tawfiq Ladan, who was also a member of the committee called on the
federal government to implement the Correctional Service Reform
Bill in 2019, which is one of the success stories of the committee
after 10 years of struggle.
Ladan also called for the implementation of the National Justice
Policy adopted in 2019 by the Federal Executive Council, which has
one thematic area on Prison Reform and Decongestion and have been
implemented in three states.
The NIALS, in another programme, called for the regulation of
social media due to the dangers associated with fake news and hate
speeches in the country.
Stakeholders, however, said the regulation must strike a balance
between the fundamental rights of citizens as guaranteed in the
1999 Constitution and other regional and international
instruments.
Speaking at the forum, Prof Ladan drew attention to existing
laws, which can be used to address the challenge, without
legislating on a new Bill.
On her part, the General Manager, Nigerian Television Authority,
News 24, Asabe Abubakar opined that “Everyone has a responsibility
to combat the scourge of fake news by verifying information.”