Iran announced on Saturday that it intends to enrich its uranium to 20 percent at its Fordow plant amid growing tensions with the U.S. in the waning days of the Trump administration.
Iranian state television has confirmed that Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran’s civilian nuclear energy organization, has sent a letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) informing it of Tehran’s decision to enrich its uranium. just a short distance away from weapon grade levels.
The IAEA also confirmed to The Hill that it had received the letter and maintained that it was closely monitoring developments in the Fordow underground plant.
“Iran has informed the agency that the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran intends to produce low-enriched uranium (LEU) up to 20 percent at the Fordow fuel enrichment plant to comply with a legal act recently passed by the country’s parliament has been accepted. Iran’s letter to the agency, dated [Dec. 31, 2020] did not say when this enrichment activity would take place, ”the agency said.
“The agency has 24/7/7 inspectors in Iran and they have regular access to Fordow,” he added. ‘In line with the standard of safeguards, Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi will immediately report all relevant developments to the IAEA countries, as he did. [Friday] regarding Iran’s letter. ”
Iran’s decision to further enrich its uranium comes amid growing friction with Washington and concerns that Tehran is contemplating some kind of military action in the Middle East in the coming days.
Two air force B-52 stratofortresses flew from Minot Air Force Base, ND, to the Persian Gulf this week in an effort to provide a clear deterrent to anyone intending to harm Americans or American interests’, according to the U.S. central. Order. The flights were the third such mission in 45 days.
The US Central Command did not identify Iran as the source of its concerns, but speculation has surfaced that Tehran would plan a sort of strike through its proxies across the region to mark the first anniversary of the January 3 assassination of Qassem Soleimani. herdenk. Iran’s top general in a US air strike in Iraq.
A senior U.S. military official told Fox News that a U.S. intelligence report suggested that Iran wanted revenge for the killings and “had the potential for other more complex attacks” on Americans in Iraq.
“We see planning for, especially in Iraq, for complex attacks that require Iranian assistance to be put down,” the official said.
President Trump
Donald Trump Trump calls the Georgia Senate “illegal and invalid” in the twenties of the New Year. Judge rejects Gohmert’s election lawsuit against Pence. Ex-GOP senator proposes to form a new party, Trump calls’ the US withdrew from the Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran in 2018. The treaty imposed restrictions on Tehran’s ability to enrich its uranium in exchange for sanctions relief.
Democrats have widely praised the deal as an effective tool to curb Iran’s nuclear program, but Trump and Republicans have long backed it as inadequate because it does not cover Tehran’s missile program or relationship with a series of proxies in the Middle East that fought against the USA. troops.
Iran is already in breach of the agreement and has enriched uranium to 4.5 percent, which is above the 3.67 percent limit. Jumping up to 20 percent, however, would be a clear increase, as uranium enriched to that level could easily be converted into weapon-grade material.
The announcement Saturday could be an attempt to put presidential election under pressure Joe Biden
Joe BidenTrump calls the Georgia Senate ‘illegal and invalid’ in the second year of the New Year. Judge rejects Gohmert’s election lawsuit against Pence. Ex-GOP senator proposes to form a new party, calls Trump more as ‘ringleader’ of Republicans – a warning that Tehran could pursue its enrichment further if Biden does not live up to its promise to resume nuclear deal negotiations.
The Fordow plant was first unveiled in 2009, frightening international experts that the site, armed by anti-aircraft guns and other strongholds, could have military purposes.
After the revelation, the U.S. military manufactured ‘bunkerbuster’ bombs designed to destroy such facilities, and launched a complex cyber attack on nuclear facilities with Israel in 2010 after Tehran first decided to enrich uranium to 20 percent.