Dubai/Geneva, July 3: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday said the nation will uplift its low-uranium enrichment by July 7 at whatever level Tehran requires beyond the cap which was set in its landmark 2015 international nuclear deal with world powers, defying the United States efforts to force Iran to renegotiate the accord.
According to IRIB news reports, Rouhani said, “Our level of enrichment will no longer be 3.67. We will put this commitment aside by whatever amount we feel like, by whatever amount is our necessity, our need. We will take this above 3.67.”
On Tuesday, European signatories to the 2015 International Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty said they were “extremely concerned” by Iranian breach of the pact, while Israel stated it was preparing itself for potential involvement in military confrontation between the United States and Iran.
“From (July 7) onward with the Arak reactor, if you don’t operate (according to) the program and time frame of all the commitments you’ve given us, we will return the Arak reactor to its previous condition,” said Rouhani.
“Meaning, the condition that you say is dangerous and can produce plutonium,” he said, referring to a key ingredient in a nuclear weapon. “We will return to that unless you take action regarding all your commitments regarding Arak.”
However, the Iranian president also kept the doors open for negotiations with US President Donald Trump.
Trump has on Monday warned Tehran, stating Washington is in a position to do “far worse” amid reports Iran has kicked off enriching uranium exceeding the limits outlined in the landmark 2015 international nuclear deal.
During an interview with Fox News, the US president said, “We are in a position to do far worse.”
Also read:
- Iranian foreign minister Zarif rejects US accusation it long breached INF Treaty
- US in position to do ‘far worse’: Donald Trump warns Iran amid Tehran exceeding uranium-enrichment limit