Iran continues to further enhance its heavy water production and uranium enrichment; While it claims it will not pass 3.67% enrichment limit under the nuclear deal, it has placed a deadline for solutions to US sanctions on its oil and banking sectors.
Iran announced it has quadrupled its uranium enrichment production capacity on Tuesday, just two weeks following its announcement that it would suspend commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, nuclear deal) until world powers found a solution to US sanctions on Iran’s oil and banking sectors. Earlier this month, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani gave JCPOA signatories a 60-day deadline to come up with solutions for its economic crisis caused by the United States.
An official from the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran confirmed increases in its heavy water production and uranium enrichment at both the Natanz and Arak plants last week. Iran claims it will only enrich uranium to the designated 3.67% limit under the 2015 nuclear deal and it has given signatories until July 7, 2019, to find a solution.
Iran continues to threaten Israel and the United States, placing blame for its economic struggles on the US-Zionist led “economic war”. The United States has deployed warships and bombers to the Persian Gulf, conducting navy drills. President Trump recently took to Twitter to warn the Islamic Republic, “If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again!”
Most recently, a “low-grade rocket” attack was reported outside the US Embassy in Baghdad. The attack followed a drone attack on Aramco’s pumping station outside of Riyadh. Saudi Arabia has blamed Iran and its proxies for the attack and on Monday, the country’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Adel al-Jubeir, warned Iran that while the Kingdom does not seek war, “if the other side chooses war, the Kingdom will fight this with all force and determination and it will defend itself, its citizens and its interests.” Houthi rebels later confirmed they carried out the attack.
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