The deputy head of Iran’s nuclear agency said on Saturday that the Islamic Republic is going to unveil a new generation of uranium enrichment centrifuges, Reuters reported on Sunday.
Atomic Energy Organization of Iran deputy chief Ali Asghar Zarean said on Iranian State TV that “in the near future, we will unveil a new generation of centrifuges that are domestically made.”
Iran said in September, it was seeking ways to speed up uranium enrichment, as part of its reduced compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, the report noted.
Separately, a senior U.S. administration official was quoted by Reuters on Saturday as saying that there is hope that the release of U.S. citizen Xiyue Wang by Iran would lead to the freeing of other American prisoners.
“We’re hopeful this will lead us to further success with Iran,” said the official.
“This should be viewed as a hopeful sign by the other families. I’m hopeful that the release of Mr. Wang is a sign that the Iranians are realizing that the practice of hostage-taking diplomacy really should come to an end if Iran wants to rejoin the international community.”
