Iran increases uranium enrichment and seizes oil tankers as tensions with US increase

by

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

Iran currently enriches its uranium reserves to around 4.5%, which exceeds the 3.67% limit imposed by the 2015 nuclear deal, but well below the 90% considered to be of arms quality. . Iran has continually denied its intention to assemble nuclear weapons.

The country had informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its intention to continue enriching uranium to 20%, IAEA spokesman Fredrik Dahl told CNN on Friday.

The rise poses a challenge to U.S. President-elect Joe Biden, who has pledged to reactivate the pact when he takes office. President Donald Trump withdrew from the joint deal in 2018 and reintroduced sanctions on the Iranian regime.

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

IRNA added, citing Rabiei, that all necessary measures have been taken, such as reporting to the IAEA.

Last month, the Iranian parliament passed a bill that would increase uranium enrichment to pre-2015 levels and block nuclear inspections if sanctions were not lifted, following the assassination of a nuclear scientist. first order.

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

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in January 2020 that Iran enriched more uranium than before the signing of the agreement, and in March the UN found that the country had nearly tripled its reserve in question. of months.

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

The Iranian government has repeatedly called on the U.S. to reinstate the deal Trump withdrew in 2018.

The tank closed

Meanwhile, on Monday, news agencies and the firm Dryad Global reported that Iran had confiscated a chemical oil tanker carrying the South Korean flag.

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

He added that 23 crew members were on board.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which is part of Britain’s Royal Navy, said there was an “interaction” within the Strait of Hormuz between a merchant ship and the Iranian authorities, which pushed the ship to make “an alteration of the course of Iranian territory“ waters ”.

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

CNN has contacted the South Korean government to comment.

.Source