Iran again threatens to violate nuclear deal

(Patria) – Iran will start injecting uranium into centrifuges at its Fordow nuclear facility as early as tomorrow, said President Hassan Rouhani.

He announced via television that gas will be injected into 1,044 centrifuges, which is contrary to the 2015 nuclear deal.

However, he added that these steps can be avoided if the signatories to the international agreement fulfill their obligations.

- We are aware that they are sensitive when it comes to Fordow, said Rouhani, adding: 'But at the same time, if they fulfill their obligations, we will stop the process again... So, it is possible to reverse this move.'

Rouhani also said that Iran 'cannot fulfill its obligations if they (the signatories to the agreement) do not fulfill theirs'.

The Euronews portal writes that Russia and France, which are signatories to the 2015 agreement, have expressed concern over this move by Iran.

The spokesperson for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the ministry is awaiting a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and that France remains committed to the agreement, and encourages Iran to 'fully comply with its obligations and cooperate with the IAEA regarding the agreement and obligations related to the nuclear program'.

Just one day before Rouhani's statement, the head of Iran's nuclear program, Ali Akbar Salehi, announced that uranium enrichment would be intensified by launching 30 advanced IR-6 centrifuges.

In his address on the occasion of launching the centrifuges, Salehi stated that the decision can be attributed to the United States, which withdrew from the agreement last year:

- We must thank our enemies for creating an opportunity for Iran, especially in the nuclear technology industry, to show how we can achieve something like this... in such a short time, said Salehi.

Meanwhile, the US plans to impose additional sanctions on 9 individuals connected to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to 'prevent money from entering a dark network'.

A statement from the US Treasury Department states that such a move will 'block money from entering a dark network of Ali Khamenei's advisors for military and foreign policy issues who have oppressed the Iranian people for decades, exported terrorism, and spread destabilizing policies around the world', Euronews reports.