Iran said it would enrich uranium at 60%, a big step closer to 90% that are military-grade fabrics, in reaction to what an act of sabotage says across Israel opposed to its main nuclear facility last week.
U. S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tehran’s goal raised questions about the seriousness of the talks in Vienna between Iran and world powers to revive the 2015 nuclear deal.
“We take the provocative announcement of its goal of starting to enrich 60% uranium very seriously,” Blinken said at a press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels. “I have to tell you that this measure calls iran’s seriousness regarding nuclear talks,” he said.
The nuclear deal collapsed when Iran exceeded its uranium enrichment limits in a gradual reaction to the U. S. withdrawal from the pact in 2018 and the reinstatement of Washington’s economic sanctions opposed to the Islamic Republic.
Last week, Iran and its fellow signatories held what they described as “constructive” talks to repair the abandoned deal through the Trump administration, which he considered too lenient with Tehran.
The explosion at Iran’s uranium enrichment site occurred sunday before a week of talks. Israel, which supported former US President Donald Trump’s hard line opposed to Iran, has not officially commented on the incident on the Iranian Natanz site, which gave the impression that it is the newest turn in a long secret war.
Britain, France and Germany also said Tehran’s new resolve to enrich 60% of the world, up from 20% so far, and to ignite 1,000 complex centrifuges at its Natanz plant, in contradiction to the talks. They said they rejected “every escalation”, measured through any actor, “in an obvious sign for Israel.
“Iran’s announcements are regrettable, as they come at a time when all JCPoA and US participants have begun substantive discussions, with the aim of finding a quick diplomatic solution to revitalize and repair THE JCPoA,” the three countries said in a statement, referring to the 2015 agreement.
“Iran’s recent harmful communication is contrary to the constructive spirit and religion of these talks,” he said of the talks, which will resume Thursday between Iran and the world powers in Vienna, aimed at saving the agreement.
A U. S. official, speaking under anonymity, said last week’s occasions had not necessarily made things easier. “But I’m not going on to speculate that that means we can’t succeed in an agreement. . . We wouldn’t approve if we thought it was over, but I won’t say we’re waiting for a breakthrough.
Depart
In an obvious rejection later Wednesday, Iran’s ideal leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the United States seeks to impose its terms to save the agreement and that European powers were making Washington’s offer.
“Nuclear talks in Vienna will not have to weaken the Array talks. It’s bad for our country,” said Khamenei, who has the final say on Iranian state affairs, as quoted through state television.
Biden took the place of work in January with a commitment to sign the agreement if Tehran fully re-enforces its enrichment restrictions. Tehran has continually said that all sanctions must be rescinded first.
“We have already declared Iran’s policy, sanctions will first have to be eliminated. Once we are sure that this has been done, we will respect our commitments,” Khamenei said, according to semioficial news agency Tasnim.
“The offerings they are offering are arrogant and humiliating and are not considered valuable. “
Iran has “almost finished preparations” to release 60% enrichment and notified the International Atomic Energy Agency that it will activate 1024 more IR-1 centrifuges, its first generation of oldest machinery in Natanz, the UN nuclear control body announced Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia, Iran’s main enemy in the Gulf, also intervened wednesday and said any resumption of the nuclear deal would be the starting point for further negotiations involving the states of the region to expand the agreement.
Rayd Krimly, head of policy-making plans at Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told Reuters that any agreement that did not respond well to the security disorders of countries in the region would not work, and Riyadh would consult with world powers.
“We need to make sure at least that all monetary resources earmarked for Iran through the nuclear agreement are not used Array . to destabilize the region,” he said.
Iran’s agreement with the six powers limits the fissile purity to which uranium can be refined to 3. 67%, well below the 20% achieved before the agreement and well below the right 90% for a nuclear weapon.
(REUTERS)