In this photo released by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, spokesman of the organization Behrouz Kamalvandi, center, briefs the media while visiting Fordow nuclear site near Qom, south of Tehran, Iran, Nov 9, 2019. (ATOMIC ENERGY ORGANIZATION OF IRAN VIA AP)

TEHRAN - Iran will produce up to 9 kg of 20-percent enriched uranium  with the purity of 20 percent per month, the head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Ali Akbar Salehi, announced on Tuesday.

"At present, we produce 17 to 20 grams of 20 percent (enriched) uranium every hour. We have a production capacity of 8 to 9 kilograms per month to reach the 120 kilograms limit provided by law," Salehi was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency.

The 20-percent uranium enrichment process was launched on Monday as part of Iran's Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions which was approved by the parliament in December 2020

The 20-percent uranium enrichment process was launched on Monday as part of Iran's Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions which was approved by the parliament in December 2020.

"Extensive activities are underway in the AEOI, including the construction of two nuclear power plants in Bushehr (in south of Iran). These are the two largest industrial projects in the country with a cost of about US$10 billion," Salehi was quoted as saying.

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"Besides, until four years ago we produced an average of four to five tonnes of yellow cake (annually)...and this year it will be increased to 35 to 40 tonnes which is eightfold" compared to four years ago, he noted.

AEOI spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said Tuesday that Iran could produce enriched uranium at higher purity.

"The process of producing 20-percent enriched uranium took more than 24 hours, but with new technologies this time it has now been reduced to 12 hours," Kamalvandi was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency.

Iran is obtaining 20-percent enriched uranium "in two cascades" at the Fordow facility, he added.

Kamalvandi noted that this action was taken in order to protect the rights of the Iranian people.

"We have the ability to enrich uranium above 20-percent (purity) easily and we are considering it," he added.

The European Commission said on Tuesday it regretted that Iran has resumed its uranium enrichment process. 

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“We are highly concerned by the measures taken by Iran. This action is in breach of Iran’s nuclear commitments and will have serious implications,” a spokesman for the Commission told a regular briefing. “It is regrettable but it is also highly important and ... that we maintain the agreement,” he said.

With inputs from Reuters