Analysis by PMOI/MEK
Iran, May 22, 2019 – Iran’s mullahs have quadrupled their low-enriched uranium production rate amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran, according to the Associated Press citing semi-official news agencies in Iran on Monday.
A quadrupling of LEU production would mean the Iranian regime will likely go beyond the stockpile limitations set by the 2015 nuclear deal, according to AP.
On May 8, Tehran announced it would stop complying with a 300-kilogram cap on the storage of enriched uranium under the nuclear deal. The mullahs’ regime announced it would not comply by limits on uranium enrichment unless Europe throws an economic lifeline within 60 days, setting an ultimatum for the survival of the agreement.
Iran says the production of uranium enriched to the 3.67% limit is set by the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
Iranian regime President Hassan Rouhani addressed government officials on Monday in this regard.
“We have informed the heads of five governments that we will stop complying with two measures that we have been doing all along. These two measures are in a simple language two act of selling. Meaning whenever our enriched uranium stockpile would reach 300 kilograms, we would sell the excess amount to another country and receive yellow cake in return. This procedure will stop now.
“The second sale was our heavy water. Whenever we would reach our maximum permitted limit of 130 tons, we would sell the excess to another country. This procedure is also stopped now,” Rouhani explained.
The announcement by Rouhani came as the US State Department published a list of extra sanctions and limits on the mullahs’ nuclear program on May 3. The new sanctions and limitations imposed on Iran regime prior to the announcement by Rouhani were banning any purchase of enriched uranium from Iran. The US government also sanctioned any selling of heavy water by the Iranian regime.
Following Rouhani’s announcement of breaching Iran’s nuclear obligations, the United Kingdom, France and Germany expressed deep concern over any violation of Iran’s JCPOA commitments. China also expressed refrain from any radical and drastic measures by the regime.
The UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned Iran not to “underestimate the resolve of the U.S.” amid heightened tensions across the Persian Gulf.
Hunt told journalists in Geneva on Monday that U.S. leaders “are not seeking conflict, they don’t want a war with Iran, but if American interests are attacked, they will retaliate. And that is something that the Iranians need to think about very, very carefully.”
Hunt added that Britain has had extensive discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over Iran. He said he hopes Iran starts to “pull back from the destabilizing activities” it conducts in the region.
