Iran announced on Saturday it plans to enrich its uranium up to 20 percent at its Fordow facility amid mounting tensions with the US in the waning days of the Trump administration.
Iranian state television confirmed that Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran’s civilian Atomic Energy Agency, has sent a letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) informing it of Tehran’s decision to enrich its uranium just a short distance from weapons. rank levels.
The IAEA also confirmed to The Hill that it had received the letter and insisted it would keep a close eye on all developments at the Fordow underground facility.
Iran has informed the agency that the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran plans to produce low enriched uranium (LEU) up to 20 percent at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant to comply with a law recently passed by the country’s parliament. . Iran’s letter to the office, dated [Dec. 31, 2020] did not say when this enrichment activity would take place, ”the agency said.
“The agency has inspectors in Iran 24/7 and they have regular access to Fordow,” he added. In accordance with standard safeguards practices, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will promptly report all relevant developments to IAEA member states. [Friday] regarding Iran’s letter. “
Iran’s decision to further enrich its uranium comes amid mounting friction with Washington and concerns that Tehran is considering some sort of military action in the Middle East in the coming days.
Two Air Force B-52 Stratofortresses flew from Minot Air Force Base, ND, to the Persian Gulf this week in an attempt to “send a clearly deterrent message to anyone who intends to harm Americans or US interests,” said US Central Assignment. The flights were the third such mission in 45 days.
The US Central Command has not identified Iran as the source of its concerns, but it has been speculated that Tehran may be planning some sort of attack through its proxy forces across the region to mark the first anniversary of the assassination of Qassem Soleimani on January 3. commemorate. Iran’s top general in a US air raid in Iraq.
A senior US military official told Fox News that a US intelligence report suggests Iran “wants to avenge that murder” and has “potential for other, more complex attacks” on Americans in Iraq.
“We see plans, particularly in Iraq, for complex attacks that would require Iranian assistance to be carried out,” the official said.
President Trump
Donald Trump Trump calls Georgia Senate runoffs ‘both illegal and invalid’ in New Year’s tweets Judge Dismisses Gohmert’s Election Case Against Pence Ex-GOP Senator Proposes Forming New Party, Calls Trump ‘Ringmaster’ of Republicans MORE the US withdrew from the Obama-era nuclear pact with Iran in 2018. The pact placed restrictions on Tehran’s ability to enrich its uranium in exchange for sanction relief.
Democrats widely hailed the deal as an effective tool to curb Iran’s nuclear program, but Trump and the Republicans have long labeled it inadequate for not covering Tehran’s missile program or its relationship with a range of proxy forces in the country. Middle East who fought against the US. troops.
Iran is already in breach of the deal and is enriching uranium to 4.5 percent, which is above the deal’s 3.67 percent limit. However, a jump to 20 percent would be a marked escalation, as uranium enriched to that level can easily be converted into weapons material.
Saturday’s announcement may be an attempt to put pressure on the president-elect Joe Biden
Joe Biden Trump calls Georgia Senate runoffs ‘both illegal and invalid’ in New Year’s tweets Judge Dismisses Gohmert’s Election Case Against Pence Ex-GOP Senator Proposes Forming New Party, Calls Trump ‘Ringmaster’ of Republicans MORE – a warning that Tehran could continue its enrichment if Biden fails to deliver on his promise to resume negotiations on a nuclear deal.
The Fordow facility was first unveiled in 2009, worrying international experts that the site, which is armed with anti-aircraft guns and other fortifications, could have military uses.
The US military began creating “bunker buster” bombs intended to destroy such facilities after the disclosure, and together with Israel launched a complex cyber-attack on nuclear facilities in 2010 after Tehran first decided to destroy uranium to 20 percent.