Iran quadruples its uranium capacity after Trump threat
IRAN has quadrupled its uraniumenrichment production capacity amid tensions with the US over its nuclear programme, officials have revealed.
The announcement comes after US president Donald Trump threatened ‘the official end of Iran’.
Tehran stressed the uranium would be enriched only to the 3.67 per cent limit set under the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers – making it usable for a power plant but far below that needed for a nuclear weapon.
However, by increasing production, Iran will soon exceed the stockpile limitations set by the accord.
Mr Trump, who pulled out of the 2015 deal and imposed sanctions on Tehran, warned on Sunday: ‘ If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again!’ Hitting back, Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused Mr Trump of being ‘goaded’ into ‘genocidal taunts’, adding: ‘Iranians have stood tall for a millennia while aggressors all gone. Try respect – it works!’
Tehran has set a July 7 deadline for Europe to set new terms, or it will enrich closer to weapons-grade levels.
As a result, Mr Trump has deployed bombers and an aircraft carrier to the Middle East over ‘threats’ from Iran.
UAE officials alleged four oil tankers were sabotaged earlier this month, while Yemeni rebels allied with Iran launched a drone attack on an oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia.
On Sunday, a rocket landed not far from the US embassy in Baghdad, days after non-essential staff were ordered to leave the country. No one was hurt.