Iran accelerates uranium enrichment and seizes tanker as tensions with US increase

Iran accelerates uranium enrichment and seizes tanker as tensions with US increase

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Iran also seized a South Korean chemical tanker in the Persian Gulf on Monday, semi-official news agencies and Dryad Global, a maritime risk management firm, said.

Iran is currently enriching its uranium supply to about 4.5%, which is higher than the 3.67% ceiling set by the 2015 nuclear deal, but far from the 90% considered a weapons grade. Iran has consistently denied its intention to assemble nuclear weapons.

IAEA spokesman Fredrik Dahl told CNN on Friday that the country had informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its intention to enrich 20% uranium.

The run-up presents a challenge to the elected US President, Joe Biden, who has promised to revive the treaty when he takes office. President Donald Trump walked away from the joint agreement in 2018 and instead began sanctions against the Iranian regime.

Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei said on Monday that the country had begun the enrichment process a few hours ago at Fordow site, pointing out that the first UF6-enriched uranium would be produced within hours, IRNA said.

IRNA added, referring to Rabiei, that all necessary measures had been taken, such as notifying the IAEA.

Last month, Iran’s parliament approved a bill that would increase uranium enrichment to 2015 levels and block nuclear inspections if sanctions are not lifted, in the wake of the assassination of a nuclear expert.

“The law obliges the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran to produce at least 120 kg of 20% enriched uranium annually and store it in the country,” the Mehr news agency reported.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in January 2020 that Iran was enriching more uranium than before the agreement was signed, and in March the UN found that the country had almost tripled its supplies within a few months.

Rouhani, whose government signed the nuclear deal with world powers in 2015, opposed last month’s bill, arguing it would undermine diplomacy.

Iran’s government has repeatedly called on the US to restore the agreement that Trump withdrew in 2018.

Tank seized

Meanwhile, news agencies and the Dryad Global firm reported that Iran had seized a chemical tanker with the South Korean flag.

“Reports indicate that South Korean Chemical Tanker HANKUK CHEMI (IMO: 9232369) was probably detained by Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz as he entered Fujairah,” Dryad Global said.

It added that 23 crew members were on board.

The British Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which is part of the British navy, said that an “interaction took place” within the Strait of Hormuz between a merchant vessel and Iranian authorities, who pushed the vessel to a change in the To make Iranian territory. waters. “

Iran said the vessel had been seized as a result of “creating environmental and chemical pollution in the Persian Gulf,” the semi-official news agency Tasnim said. According to Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency, the IRGC fleet was seized from the vessel.

CNN has asked the South Korean government for comment.

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