One Month After US Withdrawal from JCPOA; Khamenei Orders Preparation for Uranium Enrichment

Following the United States’ withdrawal from the JCPOA under President Trump’s order and Iran’s negotiations with European powers on how to preserve the agreement, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei on Monday, June 5, called for readiness to increase uranium enrichment in remarks at a memorial ceremony for Ayatollah Khomeini.

The leader of the Islamic Republic ordered Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization to make necessary preparations to increase uranium enrichment to 190,000 SWU.

SWU (Separative Work Units) is a measure of the capacity of centrifuges, which indicates their capability in uranium enrichment.

While the United States has emphasized halting the Islamic Republic’s missile program, Ayatollah Khamenei on Monday reiterated Iran’s missile program, stating that missiles are a source of security and a point of strength.

This comes as European powers have expressed a desire to preserve the JCPOA while announcing that they are concerned about Iran’s missile program and the Islamic Republic’s interventions in regional countries, and intend to negotiate with Iran on these issues.

European officials recently responded to Iran’s request for European guarantees to preserve Iran’s economic interests in the JCPOA following the US withdrawal, saying they cannot provide such guarantees.

The US President last month, calling the nuclear agreement with Iran catastrophic and stating that the agreement does not prevent the Islamic Republic from obtaining nuclear weapons, withdrew from it.

While ordering the reinstatement of nuclear sanctions against Iran, he announced that he will consult with American allies to reach a new decision to prevent Iran’s destructive ambitions.

Following the formal announcement of the US President’s decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear agreement, Mike Pompeo declared in a statement that the United States will work with its allies to find a “real, comprehensive and enduring” solution to the Iranian threat.

He referred to the “ballistic missile program, terrorist activities around the world, and dangerous activities throughout the Middle East and beyond” as threats from the Islamic Republic of Iran that the United States will work with its partners to address.

The US Secretary of State also introduced a new American strategy regarding Iran two weeks ago, under which unprecedented financial pressure will be imposed on the Iranian government, the US State Department and Defense Department will cooperate closely to counter any Iranian aggression, and the United States will support the efforts of the Iranian people for change.

He finally announced that the United States is willing to negotiate with Iran to resume diplomatic relations and equal cooperation provided that the Islamic Republic changes its behavior.

Source: Voice of America