Following the US pulling out of the JCPOA agreement last year, Iran has announced it may resume Uranium enrichment, up to a level of 20% of U-235 (the more-active isotope, as opposed to U-238). The plan allows Iran to enrich to 3.67% U-235, for use in power plants.
Now, 20%-enriched Uranium can be used for (quicker) further enrichment to weapons-grade Uranium at around 80% or 90% U-235. And it can even theoretically itself be used in a weapon, although this is "not practical" as a design.
But - are there civilian uses of further-enriched Uranium? And specifically:
- Are there benefits for using 20%-enriched Uranium for power generation?
- Is there non-weapons research that uses 20%-enriched Uranium?
- How was Iran using the 20%-enriched Uranium it had produced before the deal (if it was using it at all)?