Iran breaches enriched uranium stockpile limit under unravelling nuclear deal

Tehran had been expected for days to acknowledge it broke the limit after earlier warning it would do so

It held off on publicly making an announcement as European leaders met on Friday in Vienna to discuss ways of saving the accord

Reading Time:2 minutes

Iranian President Hassan Rowhani (centre) inspects equipment on National Nuclear Technology Day in Tehran. Photo: EPA

Published: 9:52pm, 1 Jul 2019Updated: 10:02pm, 1 Jul 2019

Iran acknowledged on Monday that it had broken the limit set on its stockpile of low-enriched uranium by the 2015 nuclear deal, marking its first major departure from the unravelling agreement a year after the US unilaterally withdrew from the accord.

Iran had been expected for days to acknowledge it broke the limit after earlier warning it would do so. It held off on publicly making an announcement as European leaders met on Friday in Vienna to discuss ways of saving the accord. Iran has threatened to increase its enrichment of uranium closer to weapons-grade levels by July 7.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Photo: AP

The announcement comes as tensions remain high between Iran and the US. In recent weeks, the wider Persian Gulf has seen Iran shoot down a US military surveillance drone, mysterious attacks on oil tankers and Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen launching bomb-laden drones into Saudi Arabia.

The state-run IRNA news agency quoted Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as making the uranium announcement. IRNA reported that Zarif, answering a reporter’s question whether Iran had broken the limit, said: “Yes.”

“If Europeans do what they have to do, our measures are reversible,” Zarif said, according to IRNA.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x