State Department responds to US official’s remarks on presidential election; expands uranium enrichment capacity

On June 28, Xinhua reported that Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani condemned recent "interference" remarks by a US official about the 14th presidential election in this Islamic country.

Iranians take selfies while voting in the presidential election, June 27. (Source: IRNA)

Mr. Kanaani made the comments on social media platform X, responding to a series of posts on the same platform by US Deputy Special Envoy for Iran, Mr. Abram Paley, on June 26.

Accordingly, Mr. Paley declared that the election in Iran was “not fair and free” and not conducive to any “fundamental change in the direction of the country”, and made a number of accusations against the Iranian government.

Spokesperson Kanaani said Deputy Special Envoy Paley's remarks were an "unjustified interference," adding that US officials would gain nothing by making such "worthless" statements.

“The Iranian people in this election will respond firmly to such remarks through their effective participation and spirited presence at the polling stations,” he stressed.

On the same day, June 28, Reuters reported that Iran had installed half of the advanced uranium enrichment machines at the Fordow nuclear facility but had not yet put them into operation.

Two weeks ago, Tehran informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it would rapidly expand its uranium enrichment capacity at Fordow by adding eight IR-6 centrifuge cascades or clusters there within three to four weeks.

Within two days, the IAEA verified that two of the above-mentioned stages had been installed. In a confidential report to member states on June 28, the agency said that number has now doubled.

“The agency verified that Iran has installed four of the eight IR-6 stages mentioned above in Unit 1 at FFEP (Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant),” the report said. The verification took place on June 23.

“Iran has not yet clarified to the Agency when it will begin supplying UF6 gas to any stage in Unit 1, or information on the planned enrichment level,” the IAEA also noted, referring to uranium hexafluoride gas, the feedstock for centrifuges.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/iran-foreign-diplomacy-panel-responds-before-the-remarks-of-the-us-officials-on-the-presidential-election-mo-rong-nang-luc-lam-giau-uranium-276786.html