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Iran fed uranium gas to prohibited centrifuges at underground site, says UN

US President Donald Trump proposed attacking the site in a meeting with advisers last week.

A picture shows the seal of the connections between the twin cascades for 20 percent uranium production bearing the initials of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) after they were disconnected at nuclear power plant of Natanz, some 300 kilometres south of Tehran on January, 20, 2014 as Iran halted production of 20 percent enriched uranium, marking the coming into force of an interim deal with world powers on its disputed nuclear programme. AFP PHOTO/IRNA/KAZEM GHANE        (Photo credit should rea
A picture shows the seal of the connections between the twin cascades for 20% enriched uranium production bearing the initials of the International Atomic Energy Agency after they were disconnected at nuclear power plant of Natanz, south of Tehran, on Jan. 20, 2014. — KAZEM GHANE/AFP via Getty Images

Iran has further violated the 2015 nuclear deal by feeding uranium gas to more advanced centrifuges at its main Natanz nuclear site than are allowed, a report by the United Nations’ nuclear regulatory body found.

News of the report, which was obtained by Reuters, comes just days after the New York Times reported President Donald Trump asked top advisers about options to strike Natanz on Thursday.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported last week that Iran’s government had moved advanced IR-2m and IR-4 centrifuges to an underground site at Natanz, a move not permitted by the 2015 nuclear agreement.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi confirmed the news while speaking to reporters in Vienna on Wednesday, saying Tehran had moved 174 centrifuges to a newly constructed underground area at Natanz in violation of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

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