Iran says it begins 20% uranium enrichment amid US tensions

The state-run IRNA information company on Monday quoted Ali Rabiei saying President Hassan Rouhani had given the order for the transfer on the Fordo facility.

Enrichment at 20% is a brief, technical step away from weapons-grade ranges of 90%.

Iran’s choice to start enriching to twenty% a decade in the past practically introduced an Israeli strike focusing on its nuclear services, tensions that solely abated with the 2015 atomic deal. A resumption of 20% enrichment may see that brinksmanship return.

The transfer comes after President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. unilaterally from Iran’s nuclear cope with world powers in 2018. In the time since, there have been a collection of escalating incidents between the 2 nations.