Publication:
Iran announced that it will soon introduce a new centrifuge for uranium enrichment that is 20 times more powerful than older generation technology. Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) chief Ali Akbar Salehi reported that Iran has been producing IR-6 and IR-7 centrifuges and will soon introduce the more powerful IR-8. Iran began testing the IR-8 centrifuge with uranium hexafluoride (UF6) in 2016, according to the AEOI. Salehi said that Iran has assembled 20 IR-8s so far. It is unclear how many Iran plans to deploy. Iranian MP Ebrahim Rezaee affirmed that the operation of IR-6 and IR-8 centrifuges will be part of a third step in reducing Iran's commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran has installed up to 33 IR-6 centrifuges but has only injected UF6 into ten thus far.