Iranian nuclear power: towards a new standoff between Washington and Tehran

Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran (Illustrative image).

© Majid Asgaripour / Mehr News Agency / REUTERS

Text by: RFI Follow

3 min

Iran has rejected statements by new US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who said Iran must take the first step in meeting its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal before the United States return to the agreement.

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With our correspondent in Tehran,

Siavosh Ghazi

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif rejected in a tweet the remarks of his American counterpart.

For Tehran, the United States must take the first step.

Reality check for @SecBlinken:


The US


-violated JCPOA


-blocked food / medicine to Iranians


-punished adherence to UNSCR 2231


Throughout that sordid mess, Iran


-abided by JCPOA


-only took foreseen remedial measures


Now, who should take 1st step?


Never forget Trump's maximum failure.

- Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 28, 2021

After the abandonment of the 2015 nuclear deal by Donald Trump and the imposition of very harsh economic sanctions, Iran reacted by relaunching its nuclear program, in particular

the enrichment of uranium at 20%

.

Following Joe Biden's victory, Iranian officials said Tehran was prepared to limit its nuclear program if Washington lifted sanctions and reinstated the nuclear deal.

Message of firmness

But a few hours after

Antony Blinken's

statements

, Tehran sent out a message of firmness by asserting that the rate of uranium enrichment was nearly twice the initial forecast at 17 kilos per month.

Iran has also said that if US economic sanctions are not lifted within three weeks, inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will be limited.

Finally, 1,000 more modern centrifuges will be installed within three months at Fordo's underground site.

Despite the first hopes created after the victory of Joe Biden, it is a new showdown that begins between Tehran and Washington.

►Also read: Uranium enrichment, a new negotiating lever for Iran

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  • Iran

  • Mohammad Javad Zarif

  • United States

  • Nuclear

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