Iran announces 4th step to cut nuke commitments

TEHRAN - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday announced the country's fourth step to reduce its commitments to the 2015 landmark nuclear deal, official IRNA news agency reported.

"As of tomorrow, Iran will start to inject gas into the centrifuges installed in Fordow (nuclear facility)," Rouhani was quoted as saying.

"The International Atomic Energy Agency is aware of Iran's new move and will continue to monitor" Iran's nuclear activities, he added.

The Iranian president, however, said Tehran is ready to re-embrace its nuclear commitments provided that the parties to the 2015 deal honor their commitments as well.

"Iran will stop injection of gas into the centrifuges when they implement their commitments" to protect Iran's interests under the nuclear deal, he said.

"Iran's current measure is reversible," Rouhani noted.

Since May, Iran has made three moves to build stockpiles of nuclear fuel and enrich low-grade uranium to a higher level of purity, and has started up advanced centrifuges to boost the country's stockpile of enriched uranium, which had been restricted by the accord.

Iran's moves were reaction to the US unilateral withdrawal from the deal last year and the re-imposition of sanctions against the Islamic republic.