The Arak IR-40 heavy water reactor in Iran. Photo: Nanking2012/Wikimedia Commons.
JNS.org – An anonymous Israeli official said that "it was clear from the outset that the Iranians would play games" in the wake of revelations that that negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 – the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Russia and China – have reached a snag over a newly installed centrifuge.
"They did it in the past, and now they're up to their old tricks again," the Israeli official said.
According to the deal reached between Iran and the P5+1 powers in November, Iran promised to stop enriching uranium beyond 5 percent and dilute all existing stockpiles already enriched to 20 percent. The country cannot install any new centrifuges and must allow regular monitoring by international nuclear inspectors.
Officials say they want to implement the deal on January 20th. But negotiations due to take place in Geneva this week will include a discussion regarding a new advanced nuclear centrifuge Iran says it has installed. Centrifuges purify uranium for fuel in atomic power plants or potentially as weapons.
"Iran seeks maximum maneuvering room in interpreting the agreement, while the U.S. seeks to ensure that this interpretation does not go beyond its understanding of the agreement," an anonymous diplomat told Reuters.