Iran threatens to ‘vigorously’ resume uranium enrichment if US quits nuclear deal
Foreign minister insists Tehran is not pursuing nuclear weapons
Iran has warned it is ready to “vigorously” resume nuclear enrichment if the United States ditches the 2015 nuclear deal, and said further “drastic measures” are being considered in response to a US exit.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told reporters in New York that Iran is not seeking to acquire a nuclear bomb, but that its “probable” response to a US withdrawal would be to restart production of enriched uranium – a key bomb-making ingredient.
“America never should have feared Iran producing a nuclear bomb, but we will pursue vigorously our nuclear enrichment,” added Zarif, who is in the United States to attend a UN meeting on sustaining peace.
US President Donald Trump has set a May 12 deadline for the Europeans to “fix” the 2015 agreement that provides for curbs to Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for relief from financial sanctions.
Zarif’s comments marked a further hardening of rhetoric following a warning earlier this month from Iranian President Hassan Rowhani that Washington would “regret” withdrawing from the nuclear deal, and that Iran would respond within a week if it did.