VIENNA — Iran is taking steps to improve its ability to speed up uranium enrichment, which could delay implementation of a nuclear deal with six world powers because Tehran’s moves are opposed by the United States and its allies.
Iran’s nuclear chief, Ali Akbar Salehi, said late Thursday that his country is building a new generation of centrifuges for uranium enrichment but they need further tests before they can be mass produced.
His comments appeared aimed at countering criticism from Iranian hard-liners by showing their country’s nuclear program is moving ahead and has not been halted by the accord.
But two officials familiar with Iran’s nuclear activities said Tehran has gone even further by interpreting a provision of the interim Geneva nuclear deal in a way rejected by many, if not all, of the six powers that sealed the Geneva deal with Iran.
They told The Associated Press Friday that Iranian technical experts told counterparts from the six powers last week that some of the cutting-edge machines have been installed at a research tract of one of Iran’s enriching sites. They gave no numbers.