Fact Check: Iran's 2015 nuclear deal allowed uranium enrichment to 3.67% for power plants.

Fact Check: "Iran's 2015 nuclear deal allowed uranium enrichment to 3.67% for power plants."

What We Know

The claim that Iran's 2015 nuclear deal permitted uranium enrichment to 3.67% is accurate. Under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was agreed upon in July 2015, Iran was allowed to enrich uranium to a maximum of 3.67% purity. This level of enrichment is sufficient for use in nuclear power plants but far below the levels required for nuclear weapons, which typically require enrichment levels of 90% or more (source-1, source-5).

The deal also included restrictions on the quantity of enriched uranium that Iran could possess, limiting its stockpile to 300 kilograms of low-enriched uranium (source-5).

Analysis

The evidence supporting this claim comes from multiple credible sources. The JCPOA itself, as summarized by the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, explicitly states the enrichment cap of 3.67% for uranium (source-1). Furthermore, the Associated Press corroborates this by stating that the deal limited Iran's uranium enrichment to 3.67%, which is adequate for fueling nuclear power plants (source-5).

Additionally, the BBC explains that low-enriched uranium, which includes concentrations of 3-5% U-235, is suitable for commercial nuclear reactors (source-4). This aligns with the stipulations of the JCPOA, reinforcing the claim's validity.

The sources referenced are reliable, with the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee being a governmental body, and the Associated Press and BBC being reputable news organizations known for their journalistic integrity.

Conclusion

Verdict: True. The claim that Iran's 2015 nuclear deal allowed uranium enrichment to 3.67% for power plants is supported by multiple credible sources, including the official summary of the JCPOA and reports from established news organizations. The enrichment level specified in the deal is indeed aligned with the requirements for nuclear power generation, confirming the accuracy of the claim.

Sources

1. PDF Iran Nuclear Agreement Summary and Analysis
2. Iran - The World Factbook
3. Iran – Wikipedia
4. Iran nuclear deal: Why do the limits on uranium enrichment matter? - BBC
5. UN report: Uranium particles enriched to 83.7% found in Iran
6. Iran | Latest News from Iran Today | AP News
7. Portal:Iran - Wikipedia
8. The Iran Nuclear Deal - A Simple Guide - The New York Times