Iran increases uranium enrichment and seizes tanker as tensions rise with US

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Iran also seized a South Korean-flagged oil tanker in the Persian Gulf on Monday, semi-official news agencies and Dryad Global, a maritime security risk management firm, said.

Iran is currently enriching its uranium stock by up to about 4.5%, which is above the 3.67% limit imposed by the 2015 nuclear deal, but far from 90%, which is considered quality for weapons. Iran has repeatedly denied its intention to assemble nuclear weapons.

The country briefed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on its intention to continue uranium enrichment by 20%, IAEA spokesman Fredrik Dahl said on Friday.

Rising is a challenge for US President-elect Joe Biden, who has pledged to revive the pact when he takes office. President Donald Trump withdrew from the joint agreement in 2018, instead resuming sanctions on the Iranian regime.

Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei said Monday that the country began the enrichment process “a few hours ago” on the Fordow site, noting that the first UF6-enriched uranium will be produced in a few hours, IRNA said.

IRNA added, citing Rabies, that all necessary measures had been taken, such as informing the IAEA.

Last month, Iran’s parliament passed a bill that would increase uranium enrichment to pre-2015 levels and block nuclear inspections if sanctions are not lifted following the assassination of a top nuclear scientist.

“The law obliges the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran to produce at least 120 kg of 20% enriched uranium annually and store it in the country,” the Mehr news agency reported.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in January 2020 that Iran was enriching more uranium than before the agreement was signed, and in March the UN found that the country had almost tripled its stock in a few months.

Rouhani, whose government signed the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, opposed last month’s bill, arguing it would undermine diplomacy.

The Iranian government has repeatedly called on the United States to restore the agreement from which Trump withdrew in 2018.

Confiscated tank

Meanwhile, on Monday, news agencies and Dryad Global reported that Iran had seized an oil tanker carrying the South Korean flag.

“Reports indicate that South Korean-flagged oil tanker HANKUK CHEMI (IMO: 9232369) was probably detained by Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz while on its way to Fujairah,” Dryad Global said.

He added that there were 23 crew members on board.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which is part of the Royal British Navy, said there was an “interaction” in the Strait of Hormuz between a merchant ship and the Iranian authorities, pushing the ship to make “a change, of course, in Iranian waters. “

Iran said the ship was confiscated for “creating chemical and environmental pollution in the Persian Gulf,” the semi-official Tasnim news agency said. The ship was confiscated by the IRGC Navy, according to the Iranian semi-official news agency Mehr.

CNN contacted the South Korean government for a comment.

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