Iran Claims Enrichment Level Breached As Per Terms Of Nuclear Deal
Iran responded to accusations that it had broken the terms of the Iran Nuclear Deal by clarifying that they had breached the 300kg cap on uranium enrichment in light of the other signatories’ failure to shield Iran’s economic interests from aggressive US sanctions.
Javad Zarif, Iran’s Foreign Minister, expressed his disapproval and disbelief via Twitter in response to a US press release stating that Iran had been defying the limit even before the nuclear deal existed. The statement also claimed that Iran should not be allowed to enrich uranium at any level.
Seriously? pic.twitter.com/oZApumVt2T
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) July 2, 2019
He had previously emphasised that Iran’s actions were both legal, in accordance with the deal, and reversible if the other signatories were willing to abide by their obligations.
We have NOT violated the #JCPOA.
Para 36 of the accord illustrates why:
We triggered & exhausted para 36 after US withdrawal.
We gave E3+2 a few weeks while reserving our right.
We finally took action after 60 weeks.
As soon as E3 abide by their obligations, we'll reverse. pic.twitter.com/bSxaMFaktH
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) July 1, 2019
John R. Bolton, National Security Advisor of the United States, had earlier implied that Iran hasn’t breached the deal in an attempt to persuade Europe to shield it from US sanctions, but has done so to produce nuclear weapons.
There is no reason for Iran to increase its enrichment unless it’s part of an effort to reduce the breakout time to produce nuclear weapons.https://t.co/PSk24XJRJt
— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) July 1, 2019
Read More: Iran Nuclear Deal: Enriched Uranium Limit Will Be Breached On June 27
The US reinstated sanctions against Iran when they unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear deal. This has had a strong impact on Iran’s economy. Iran’s oil exports have dropped significantly.
Source: OPEC, BBC
The cost of living is expected to rise dramatically as a result of the significant drop. The IMF estimates that inflation soared to 31% in 2018 and predicts that it could reach 37% or more this year if Iran’s oil exports continue to fall.
Read More: Trump Approves Military Action Against Iran, Then Quickly Pulls Back
The US, to limit the increase in oil prices, granted sanctions waivers to China, India, Greece, Italy, Taiwan, Japan, Turkey and South Korea that allowed them to keep buying some Iranian crude oil. However, this program was allowed to expire by the Trump administration in May.
Developments regarding Iran’s increased enrichment have come weeks after an increased build up of US forces in the Gulf, and after a US surveillance drone was shot down after it allegedly violated Iranian air space.
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