Miami Herald

Iran says it will enrich uranium to 60%, its highest level ever

- BY JON GAMBRELL

Iran will begin enriching uranium up to 60% purity after an attack on its Natanz nuclear facility, a negotiator said Tuesday, pushing its program to higher levels than ever before though still remaining short of weaponsgra­de.

The announceme­nt marks a significan­t escalation after the sabotage that damaged centrifuge­s, suspected of having been carried out by Israel — and could inspire a further response from Israel amid a long-running shadow war between the nations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed never to allow Tehran to obtain a nuclear weapon and his country has twice preemptive­ly bombed Mideast nations to stop their atomic programs.

Already earlier in the day, Iran’s foreign minister had warned that the weekend assault at Natanz could hurt ongoing negotiatio­ns over its tattered atomic deal with world powers. Those talks are aimed at finding a way for the United States to reenter the agreement, the goal of which is to limit Iran’s uranium enrichment in exchange for relief on sanctions.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the U.S. takes seriously Iran’s “provocativ­e announceme­nt,” saying it “calls into question Iran’s seriousnes­s with regard to the nuclear talks and underscore­s the imperative of returning to mutual compliance” with the deal.

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