Iran suspends 20 percent uranium enrichment programme

Iran Monday commenced suspension of its 20 percent uranium enrichment programme, based on its nuclear deal reached with the six world powers, said an official.

Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI), said Iran would Monday start voluntary suspension of its uranium enrichment programme based on the nuclear deal reached in Geneva Nov 24 with the P5+1 group, the official IRNA news agency.

The P5+1 group comprises the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- the US, France, Britain, China, and Russia -- plus Germany.

The Joint Action Plan devised during the Geneva agreement will be implemented Monday, Salehi said.

The implementation of the content of the agreement has many stages and in the first stage, the inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency arrived in Iran two days ago, Salehi said.

They are presently at Natanz nuclear site to cut off links between centrifuges in Natanz and Fordoo sites in Iran for suspension of the uranium enrichment process.

Salehi said the present phase of the implementation of the Geneva nuclear deal will last six months.

Salehi added that Iran would vigorously continue its nuclear activities including five percent enrichment.

To comply with the deal, Iran must halt all uranium enrichment above five percent, freeze its enrichment capacity, reduce its stockpile of enriched uranium and stop development on its heavy water reactor in Arak, among other measures.