Tehran hit back on Thursday after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed President Joe Biden’s willingness to return to the Iran nuclear deal but rejected Iranian insistence that the United States to act first.
“Reality check for Blinken. The US violated JCPOA, blocked food/medicine to Iranians, punished adherence to UNSCR 2231,” Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted. “Throughout that sordid mess, Iran abided by JCPOA, only took foreseen remedial measures. Now, who should take 1st step? Never forget Trump’s maximum failure.”
Since 2019, Tehran has suspended its compliance with most of the limits set by the agreement in response to Washington’s abandonment of the accord and reimposition of sanctions a year earlier, and the failure of other parties to the deal to make up for it. It is now enriching uranium to 20 percent, a short technical step away from weapons-grade levels.
On Thursday, Iranian state TV said Iran had exceeded 17 kilograms of 20% enriched uranium within a month, moving its nuclear program closer to weapons-grade enrichment levels amid the heightened tensions with the US.
Iran has said it would produce 120 kilograms (265 pounds) of 20% enriched uranium per year, or 10 kilograms per month on average, so 17 kilograms would exceed that timetable. Roughly 250 kilograms (550 pounds) of 20% enriched uranium are needed to convert it into 25 kilograms of the 90% enriched needed for a nuclear weapon. READ MORE
