The United Nations' nuclear watchdog says it has inspectors on the ground in Iran who will be able to look into reports that Tehran began injecting uranium gas into advanced centrifuges in violation of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
The International Atomic Energy Agency told The Associated Press on Saturday that it was aware of the reports "related to Iran's centrifuge research and development."
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
The Vienna-based IAEA says "agency inspectors are on the ground in Iran and they will report any relevant activities to IAEA headquarters."
Iran's atomic energy spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said on Saturday that Iran had the ability to go beyond 20% enrichment of uranium.
Analysts say 20% is just a short technical step away from 90% enrichment, which is weapons-grade level.
Kamalvandi also issued a warning, saying that "Europeans should know that there is not much time left" to save the 2015 deal.
However, he added that Iran will continue to allow UN inspectors to access nuclear sites in the country.
Iran already has gone beyond the stockpile and enrichment level limits set by the deal.
This comes over a year after President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the nuclear deal.
Meantime, IAEA Acting Director General Cornel Feruta was traveling Saturday to Iran.
The agency said he will meet on Sunday with high-ranking officials in Tehran as part of what it said were its "ongoing interactions" related to its monitoring under the nuclear deal. The IAEA, which issues compliance reports, meets in Vienna on Monday.
The US's top defense official has condemned Iran's latest breach of the terms of its nuclear deal with world powers, following Tehran's announcement that it was using faster centrifuges.
In Paris, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters on Saturday the Iranian moves should not surprise anyone.
At a news conference with his French counterpart, Florence Parly, Esper said, "It's no surprise that the Iranians are going to pursue what the Iranians have always intended to pursue."
Parly said the focus should remain on keeping Iran in the 2015 deal. She said France "will continue to push in that direction."
