The Iran government announced today that it will break its commitment to the nuclear deal signed in 2015 between the U.S., Iran and five other countries. President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal last year saying the deal had not been negotiated up to his standards.
The deal specifies that Iran will stockpile no more than 300 kilograms of low-enriched uranium, the material necessary to make nuclear weapons. Iran announced today that will break that limit within the next 10 days. The announcement was made by Behrouz Kamalvandi, a spokesman for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization.
Iranian President Hasan Rouhani had previously said Tehran would no longer uphold its commitments made under the deal if the pact’s remaining signatories didn’t take steps to mitigate the negative effects of U.S. economic sanctions on Iran.
Tensions have been heightening between the U.S. and Iran for several months. The U.S. has accused Iran of aggressive behavior toward the U.S. and its interests in the Middle East. Iran has accused the U.S. embarking on a campaign of maximum pressure designed to end in military confrontation with the nation.
The other signatories of the deal along with the U.S. and Iran are France, Germany, the U.K., China and Russia.
European leaders have called for restraint. French President Emmanuel Macron pleaded for patience on the part of Iran, while German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said, “We will certainly not accept a unilateral reduction of obligations.”
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