US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Issues Warning to Iran

General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Army, warned the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the resumption of uranium enrichment in the country. He stated that America has decided not to take military action at present, but has the capability to do so.

General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Army, in response to Iran’s announcement that it has resumed uranium enrichment at the Fordow nuclear facility as part of the fourth step in reducing JCPOA commitments, said in an interview with ABC television on Sunday, November 19 (November 10): “We have no doubt about diplomatic efforts, and at the same time, we will ensure that we maintain sufficient military capacity in the region to defend American interests if necessary.”

Since the United States unilaterally withdrew from the international nuclear agreement with Iran in May 2018, tensions between the two countries have escalated increasingly.

Iran shot down an American spy drone in June. The US also believes Iran was responsible for the attack on Saudi oil facilities in mid-September.

Now, after more than four years, Iran has again begun uranium enrichment. The Islamic Republic has resumed uranium enrichment at the underground Fordow facility. Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization officially announced on November 16 (November 7) the beginning of uranium enrichment at the underground Fordow facility. This is despite the fact that ending uranium enrichment at the Fordow nuclear facility is considered one of the main pillars of the 2015 nuclear agreement.

Under the nuclear agreement, it was planned that Fordow would be transformed into a nuclear technology research center and uranium enrichment at this facility would be halted. Injecting gas into the centrifuges at this facility would effectively mean transforming Fordow into an active atomic site.

Resuming uranium enrichment at the Fordow nuclear facility is considered one of the measures of Iran’s fourth step in reducing JCPOA commitments. This is while Russia, the European Union, and three European signatories to the nuclear agreement have asked Iran to remain committed to its JCPOA obligations.

“Continuation Depends on Iran’s Behavior”

General Milley, while raising the issue of escalating tensions, said: “Our government has decided not to take military action at this time, but we have the capability to do so.”

He noted that the US transferred new military forces to the region last month. Milley said that continuation depends on the scope and type of provocation from Iran and the extent to which the country threatens American soldiers, US interests, or its allies in the region.

The US government is seeking to use a “maximum pressure” policy to push Iran into new negotiations over a nuclear agreement with stricter terms.

American sanctions, particularly in the sphere of Iranian oil sales, have caused severe economic crisis in the country.

Source: DW