**Iran to Launch Advanced Centrifuges Following UN Censure**

Iran announced plans to deploy a series of new and advanced centrifuges in a retaliatory move against a resolution passed by the United Nations nuclear watchdog. The resolution, initiated by Britain, France, Germany, and the United States, criticizes Tehran for its alleged lack of cooperation. This follows a similar censure in June. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board voted with 19 in favor, 12 abstentions, and three against, including China, Russia, and Burkina Faso.

In response, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, supported by the foreign ministry, declared measures to significantly boost uranium enrichment through advanced centrifuge technology. Machines known as centrifuges spin uranium gas at high speeds, increasing the proportion of the fissile isotope U-235.

Despite these steps, Iran affirmed that technical cooperation with the IAEA would persist within the established framework. Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesperson for Iran's atomic energy body, elaborated that the new measures are chiefly about enhancing uranium enrichment capacity. The spokesperson assured that these actions could be reversed if the Western nations retract their resolution or engage in negotiations.

A confidential resolution acquired by AFP stresses the necessity for Iran to comply with its legal duties under the Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1970. Tehran is urged to explain the presence of uranium particles at two undeclared sites and produce a comprehensive report on its nuclear program by spring 2025. The resolution coincides with IAEA head Rafael Grossi's recent visit to Tehran, where Iran agreed to cap its sensitive stock of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.

The issue traces back to the 2015 agreement which limited Iran's nuclear activities in return for lifting international sanctions. However, the deal unraveled when the U.S. withdrew from the accord in 2018 under President Trump, leading Iran to reverse its commitments. Current President Joe Biden's attempts to revive the deal have not succeeded so far.

Tensions escalated with speculative remarks by U.S. House Intelligence Committee chairman Rep. Mike Turner, who suggested Iran might announce itself as a nuclear weapons state by the year's end, although lacking concrete intelligence evidence for this claim.

Thursday saw a warning from Iran's deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, about a potential withdrawal from the Non-Proliferation Treaty if the Security Council reimposes sanctions based on a "significant non-performance" clause within the 2015 deal. Tehran has already scaled back its cooperation with the IAEA and increased its uranium enrichment levels to 60%, nearing the threshold required for nuclear weapons.