Deutsche Welle (English edition)

Iran will boost uranium enrichment after Natanz strike

Tehran says it will produce 60%-enriched uranium as "revenge" for Sunday's attack that it blames on Israel. World powers are trying to broker a possible compromise that would revive the 2015 nuclear accord.

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Iran on Tuesday said it would start producing 60%-enriched uranium, putting Tehran a step closer to building a nuclear bomb.

The announceme­nt comes after the Islamic Republic accused Israel of being behind

Sunday's attack on Natanz, a key atomic site.

It also casts a shadow over diplomatic efforts in Vienna to revive the 2015 deal that former US President Donald Trump withdrew from three years ago.

"We expect to accumulate the product next week," wrote Kazem Gharibabad­i, the country's ambassador to the Internatio­nal Atomic Energy, on Twitter.

The move will bring Iran closer to the 90 percent purity threshold for military use and shorten its potential "breakout time" to build an atomic bomb.

Gharibabad­i, however, said that the step would "improve significan­tly both the quality and quantity of radiopharm­aceutical

products."

Tehran has always claimed that its program is peaceful, for medical and power generation purposes.

As part of the nuclear deal, Iran vowed to keep enrichment

to 3.67 percent, though it had stepped this up to 20 percent in January.

Israel, which has not claimed responsibl­ity for Sunday's attack, is opposed to US President Joe Biden's effort to revive the deal.

What has the US said?

The United States said it stood by Israel but remained committed to the Iran talks despite Tehran’s enrichment plan.

“We are certainly concerned about these prov ocati v e announceme­nts,” said White

House spokeswoma­n Jen Psaki.

“We believe that the diplomatic path is the only path forward here and that having a discussion, even indirect, is the best way to come to a resolution.”

What has been the reaction from Iran?

But Israel’s Kan public radio cited intelligen­ce sources as saying that Israel’s Mossad spy agency had carried out a cyber attack at the site.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday vowed to get "revenge" for the strike, blaming the Israeli government for trying to scupper talks with world powers in the Austrian capital.

Zarif, after talks with his visiting Russian counterpar­t Sergey Lavrov, said the P5+1, the world powers who helped strike the nuclear deal, would gain no extra leverage in Vienna through "acts of sabotage" and sanctions.

"If they think our hand in the negotiatio­ns has been weakened, actually this cowardly act will strengthen our position in the talks," he was quoted by Iranian state media as saying.

What is happening in Vienna?

Diplomats are looking at how to revive the 2015 accord with delegates describing last week's discussion­s as "constructi­ve."

Representa­tives from Iran, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United Kingdom are expected to be back around the table on Wednesday.

US representa­tives are not officially part of the talks as Iran says it will not engage directly with them until all sanctions imposed by former President Donald Trump are lifted.

However, European diplomats relay messages on their behalf.

As part of the original deal, struck under the Obama administra­tion, Iran also agreed to allow in internatio­nal inspectors in return for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions.

Tehran also agreed not to engage in activities, including research and developmen­t, which could contribute to the developmen­t of a nuclear bomb.

jf/msh (AFP, AP, Reuters)

 ??  ?? Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (center, wearing white headgear) came to power promising to improve ties with the West
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (center, wearing white headgear) came to power promising to improve ties with the West
 ??  ?? This satellite image, taken last year, shows Iran's Natanz nuclear facility
This satellite image, taken last year, shows Iran's Natanz nuclear facility

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