Spokesman for Iran’s atomic agency, Behrouz Kamalvandi, confirmed on Monday that Iran would surpass the uranium stockpile limit set by the 2015 Nuclear Deal within 10 days, having increased production of uranium fourfold in the last month.
This follows Iran’s announcement in early May regarding their intentions to break out from some of the constraints imposed by the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Under the terms of the nuclear agreement with P5+1 world powers, Iran is permitted to keep a stockpile of no more than 300 kilograms of low-enriched uranium, exporting any excess.
Following Trump’s decision to withdraw from the in May 2018, US economic sanctions on Iran have been numerous and varied, including discouraging many outside companies from doing business with Iran and taking measures to cut off Iran’s oil revenue, having a dramatic draining effect on Iran’s economy.
Many fear that given the high tensions triggered by Iran’s announcement and the attacks on the oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz last week, Washington and Tehran may be on the verge of a military clash and that any miscalculation could tip them over the edge.
Behrouz Kamalvandi has stated that European powers still have the possibility to save the nuclear deal if they “abide by their commitments”, make more effort to circumvent US sanctions and most notably, come up with better terms for the nuclear deal with Tehran by July 7th.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged the international community to immediately impose sanctions on Iran should they follow through with their threat to violate the 2015 agreement, and has warned that “in any event, Israel will not allow Iran to get nuclear weaponry”.
