Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said this week that his country will begin injecting uranium gas into 1044 centrifuges, further reducing its commitment to the 2015 nuclear deal, writes Nassir Shirkhani.

The move could complicate efforts to defuse the crisis with the US, which withdrew from the landmark accord last year and tightened sanctions.

The withdrawal has dramatically reduced Iranian oil exports, prompting the country to gradually step back from its commitments.

Rouhani’s announcement is significant as the centrifuges previously spun empty, without gas injection, under the rules of the accord.

He did not say whether the centrifuges, which are at its nuclear facility in Fordo, would be used to produce enriched uranium.

The centrifuges would be injected with the uranium gas as of Wednesday, Rouhani said.

Rouhani stressed the steps taken so far, including going beyond the deal’s enrichment and stockpile limitations, could be reversed if Europe offers a way for it to avoid US sanctions choking off its crude sales abroad.

Under the 2015 deal, Iran is only allowed to enrich uranium with just over 5000 of its first-generation IR-1 centrifuges, widely seen as antiquated and prone to breakdown.

The new IR-6 machines can refine uranium 10 times faster, said Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran.

Weekly

Iran ups nuclear ante