DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran announced Tuesday it would inject uranium gas into 1,044 centrifuges that had previously been kept empty under its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
The decision marks what Iran calls its “fourth step” away from the accord, which saw Iran agree to limit its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.
The deal began to unravel over a year ago when US President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled America out of the accord. In the time since, regional tensions have risen dramatically.
Here’s where the deal now stands and what Tehran has done to ramp up its atomic program:
The nuclear deal
Iran struck the nuclear deal in 2015 with the United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia and China. The deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, grew out of secret talks president Barack Obama’s administration held with Iran after President Hassan Rouhani, a relative moderate, took office.
Iran agreed to limit its enrichment of uranium under the watch of UN inspectors in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. International businesses rushed to do deals with Iran, most notably with billion-dollar sales by Airbus and Boeing Co. READ MORE
