Iran plans to bolster enrichment of uranium soon

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran said Saturday it plans to enrich uranium up to 20 percent at its underground Fordo nuclear facility “as soon as possible,” pushing its program a technical step away from weapons-grade levels as it increases pressure on the West over the tattered atomic deal.

The move comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S. in the waning days of the administration of President Donald Trump, who unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran’s nuclear deal in 2018.

That set in motion an escalating series of incidents capped by a U.S. drone strike that killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad a year ago, an anniversary coming Sunday that has American officials worried about possible retaliation.

Iran’s decision to begin enriching to 20 percent a decade ago nearly brought an Israeli strike targeting its nuclear facilities, tensions that abated with the 2015 atomic deal. A resumption of 20 percent enrichment could see that brinksmanship return.

Ali Akbar Salehi, the U.S.-educated head of the civilian Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, offered a military analogy to describe his agency’s readiness.

“We are like soldiers and our fingers are on the triggers,” Salehi told Iranian state television. “The commander should command and we shoot. We are ready for this and will produce (20 percent enriched uranium) as soon as possible.”

The White House referred to a statement issued in December by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after Iran’s parliament passed a bill on increasing uranium enrichment. Pompeo condemned the law as “nothing more than the regime’s latest ploy to use its nuclear program to try to intimidate the international community.”