Iran parliament passes bill to increase uranium enrichment to weapons-grade level

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The Iranian parliament has passed a “double-urgency” bill to increase the level of uranium enrichment to weapons-grade, Jerusalem Online reports. The move follows the recent assassination of top Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in Damavand, east of Tehran on November 27.

Although the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Iran deal prohibits enrichment beyond 3.67 percent purity, Iran is currently enriching uranium at over 4 percent. The new bill provides for enrichment of 20 percent and higher, Jerusalem Online said.

The bill also provides for the restoration of the Arak nuclear reactor: under the JCPOA, the reactor was to be reconfigured for the production of radioisotopes to ensure it does not produce weapons-grade plutonium. A new reactor is also provided for in the legislation.

In addition, the new law states that Iran must no longer voluntarily comply with the Additional Protocol to the safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Up to now, Iran has insisted its nuclear program is being developed for peaceful purposes only. According to Iranian media, lawmakers passed the new enrichment bill by 232-14 votes. The legislation has reportedly been dubbed “The strategic measure for the removal of sanctions,” Jerusalem Online said.

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