Iran announced Saturday that it intends to enrich its uranium by up to 20 percent at its Fordow facilities amid rising tensions with the U.S. in the waning days of the Trump administration.
Iranian state television confirmed that Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran’s Civil Atomic Energy Organization, has sent a letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) informing it of the decision. of Tehran to enrich its uranium within walking distance of weapons. degree levels.
The IAEA also confirmed to The Hill that it had received the letter and maintained that it would oversee any evolution of the Fordow underground facility.
“Iran has informed the agency that in order to comply with a legal act recently approved by the country’s parliament, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran intends to produce low-enriched uranium (LEU) up to 20 percent at Fordow fuel enrichment plant.Letter of Iran to agency, dated [Dec. 31, 2020] he did not say when this enrichment activity would take place, “the agency said.
“The agency has inspectors present in Iran 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and they have regular access to Fordow,” he added. “In line with the standard practice of safeguards, Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi will immediately report any relevant developments to IAEA Member States, as he did. [Friday] with regard to the letter from Iran “.
Iran’s decision to further enrich its uranium comes amid escalating friction with Washington and concern that Tehran is considering some sort of military action in the Middle East in the coming days.
Two Air Force B-52 fortresses have flown this week from Minot (New Zealand) Air Force base in the Persian Gulf in an attempt to deliver “a clear deterrent message to anyone intending to harm the American or American interests, “according to the U.S. Central. Command. The flights marked the third such mission in 45 days.
The U.S. Central Command did not identify Iran as the source of its concerns, but it has been speculated that Tehran could plan some sort of strike through its power forces across the region to commemorate the first anniversary. of the assassination of Qassem Soleimani on January 3, Iran’s top general, in a U.S. airstrike on Iraq.
A senior U.S. military official told Fox News that a U.S. intelligence report suggests Iran wants to “avenge this assassination” and that it has “potential for other more complex attacks” against Americans. in Iraq.
“We are planning, especially in Iraq, complex attacks that require Iranian assistance in order to be withdrawn,” the official said.
President Trump
Donald Trump Trump says Georgia Senate removals are “illegal and invalid” in New Year’s tweets. The judge rejects Gohmert’s election lawsuit against former Sen. Pence, a former Republican senator, suggests forming a new party, and calls Trump a “ring master.” withdrew the United States from the Obama-era nuclear pact with Iran in 2018. The pact imposed limits on Tehran’s ability to enrich its uranium in exchange for easing sanctions.
Democrats widely hailed the deal as an effective tool to curb Iran’s nuclear program, but Trump and Republicans have long considered it insufficient because it does not cover Tehran’s missile program or its relationship with a number of forces. proxy from all over the Middle East who have fought US troops.
Iran is already violating the agreement, enriching uranium to 4.5%, which exceeds the 3.67% limit of the agreement. However, jumping to 20% would be a marked escalation, as uranium enriched up to this level could easily be transformed into quality weapon material.
Saturday’s announcement could be an attempt to pressure the president-elect Joe Biden
Joe BidenTrump considers Georgia Senate removals to be “illegal and invalid” in New Year’s tweets. Judge rejects Gohmert’s election lawsuit against former POP senator Pence suggests forming a new party – a warning that Tehran could continue to enrich if Biden does not fulfill its promise to restart negotiations on the nuclear deal.
The Fordow installation was first revealed in 2009, alarming international experts that the site, which is armed with anti-aircraft weapons and other fortifications, could have military purposes.
The U.S. military began manufacturing bunker buster bombs designed to destroy these facilities after the revelation and, with Israel, launched a complex cyber attack on nuclear facilities in 2010 after Tehran decided enrich 20% uranium for the first time.