UN warns Iran on nuclear program, escalation with Israel
Rafael Grossi says Tehran is 'accelerating' uranium enrichment
Tehran vows retaliation for alleged Israeli strike on Syria consulate
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog warned Tuesday that Iran is “accelerating” its uranium enrichment and could soon have enough material for a nuclear weapon.
"Iran has further increased its stockpile of enriched uranium, continuing to defy the limits set by the nuclear deal," Rafael Grossi, the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said in a statement.
Grossi’s warning comes as tensions between Iran and Israel have escalated in recent weeks. Iran has blamed Israel for a strike on its Syria consulate and has vowed to retaliate.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on the United States and its allies to “wake up” to the threat of Iran.
The United States has said it is “prepared to use all elements of its national power” to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
The 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers limited Iran’s uranium enrichment to 3.67%. However, Iran has since breached that limit and is now enriching uranium to 20%.
In 2018, the United States withdrew from the nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions on Iran.
Iran has said it will not return to compliance with the nuclear deal until the United States lifts sanctions.
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