Iran Nixes All Restrictions on Uranium Enrichment

Iranian leaders have announced that they will no longer abide by any of the restrictions on uranium enrichment stipulated in the 2015 nuclear accord, a move many are considering the death knell for the multilateral deal from which US President Donald Trump withdrew in May 2018. It is the latest in a series of escalating steps taken by the Islamic Republic, which over the past six months upped the quantity of its low-level enriched uranium stockpile; began producing the substance to a higher level of purity, thus shortening the breakout time necessary to manufacture an atomic weapon; and restarted nuclear activities at its controversial underground Fordow facility. Iran’s decision comes days after President Trump green-lighted the assassination of Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, who had overseen and directed the Iranian regime’s military activities abroad. Tehran has vowed to avenge Soleimani’s killing by striking US assets.