Iran threatens weapons-grade uranium enrichment if US strikes again

In a remark that could potentially escalate tensions in the Middle East, Iran on Tuesday warned that it could enrich uranium to weapons-grade levels if the United States or Israel launches fresh attacks.

Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson of the Iranian National Security and Foreign Policy Commission said that the Islamic Republic could consider enriching uranium up to 90 per cent in the event of another attack.

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“One of Iran’s options in the event of another attack could be 90 per cent enrichment,” he said, adding that the country will “review it in the parliament.”

Uranium enriched to 90 per cent is considered weapons-grade and could be used in the development of nuclear weapons.

According to some estimates, Iran already posseses 440.9 kilograms of Uranium that is enriched to 60 per cent purity.

When the US and Israel attacked Iran, they had claimed that the Islamic Republic is close to building a nuclear weapon.

While Tehran has been insisting that its nuclear programme is only for civilian use purposes, the US and Israel fear the country is secretly planning to build a nuclear weapon.

Tehran’s nuclear programme is also believed to be a key sticking point in the ongoing negotiations on reaching an agreement to end the war.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted that he won’t allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.

He also said that the US is closely monitoring Iran’s “nuclear dust”, a term he uses to stress that the US and Israel have destroyed Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities, and that Washington will “blow them up” if anyone tried to access them.