An Iranian government spokesman says Tehran has begun enriching uranium to 20% at an underground facility.
The state-run IRNA news agency quoted Ali Rabiei on Monday as saying that President Hassan Rouhani had given the order for the move at the Fordo plant.
Enrichment at 20% is a short, technical step away from the 90% weapon level.
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In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian presidency, President Hassan Rouhani speaks at his press conference in Tehran, Iran, on Monday, December 14, 2020. (Iranian presidency office via AP)
Iran’s decision to start enriching itself to 20% a decade ago has almost brought an Israeli strike to its core facilities, tensions that only eased with the 2015 nuclear deal. A 20% resumption of enrichment could lead to that the debauchery returns.
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The move comes after President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers in 2018. In the time since, there have been a series of escalating incidents between the two countries.
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