US National Security Adviser John Bolton on Monday declared the only reason Iran has for increasing its production of enriched uranium is to position itself for a quick jump to producing nuclear weapons.
Bolton’s remarks came hours after Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif acknowledged that Iran had exceeded a stockpile limit for enriched uranium laid down in a landmark 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
The announcement from Iran followed previous threats from Tehran that it would gradually drop some of its commitments to the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, including enriching uranium beyond a 3.67% purity set in the pact.
“There is no reason for Iran to increase its enrichment unless it’s part of an effort to reduce the breakout time to produce nuclear weapons,” Bolton tweeted along with a copy of the official White House statement on the development.
Bolton was in Israel last week to attend a tripartite meeting of the national security advisers of the US, Israel and Russia, during which Iran’s impact on the region was a key topic of discussion.
At the meeting Bolton slammed Iran as the “source of belligerence and aggression” in the Middle East but said there is an “open door” for negotiations with the US.
Iran has threatened to start enriching uranium above the agreed maximum purification level of 3.67 percent from July 7. Due to the nature of the enrichment process, once Iran reaches 20% purity it is a relatively short jump to reach the 90% enrichment needed for fissile material used in nuclear bombs. READ MORE
