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The Iranian step constitutes an escalation in the nuclear file (Behrouz Mehri / AFP)
Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei revealed to the semi-official Iranian news agency Mehr that his country had already begun, on Monday, enriching uranium with a purity of up to 20 percent, at the Fordo nuclear facility south of the capital, Tehran.
Rabiei added that “hours ago, after taking initial measures such as informing the International Atomic Energy Agency about the matter, and sending it a form based on the country’s commitments, the process of pumping gas (to the centrifuges) began. “.
He said the start of uranium enrichment at this rate came after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani issued, in recent days, “instructions to launch enrichment at 20 percent purity.”
He attributed the matter to the government’s implementation of the bill, which was approved by the Iranian parliament, titled “The Strategic Measure to Abolish US Sanctions,” last month.
While the Iranian government opposed the passage of this binding law, the Iranian government spokesman confirmed that it would be “committed to implementing it,” noting that the government’s earlier statement that “the law is not in the interest of the country, and that it has not been consulted or criticized in this regard, does not affect its commitment to implement it. ” These laws. “
The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Authority, Ali Akbar Salehi, revealed on Saturday that his country had informed the International Atomic Energy Agency in a message that it would begin enriching uranium with a purity of up to 20 percent in the “Fordo” facility south of the Iranian capital, Tehran.
On December 1, the Iranian parliament passed a bill titled “Strategic Action to Cancel US Sanctions.” The bill, which has become law, explicitly means withdrawing from the nuclear deal, as it forces the Iranian government to implement it after two months, and stipulates the nuclear measures that put an end to this deal, such as forcing the government to finish the job. in accordance with the additional UN protocol in which Tehran has “voluntarily” pledged to subjugate its facilities. For “strict control” by the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as to increase the enrichment rate of uranium to 20 percent or more, “if necessary.”
The two-month deadline given by the Iranian parliament to the rest of the parties to the nuclear deal to implement their promises and lift sanctions means that this law is an Iranian pressure card on these parties to force them to comply with the demand to abolish historic sanctions. and comprehensive before heading towards “no return” in its nuclear program.
Semantics of movement
The Iranian step constitutes an escalation in the nuclear file, amidst an atmosphere of mutual escalation in the region, in the context of the increased threat of a military confrontation between Tehran and Washington, following the US military strengthening and Iranian military preparations. .
The step also shows Iran’s attempt to return its nuclear activities to the stage before the nuclear deal was reached, where it was enriching uranium with this percentage, after it broke the limit allowed to enrich it under the agreement, or 3.67 percent, During the year 2019, in the second stage to end the nuclear promises within Five phases, I have taken them for the last two years. However, Iran did not exceed 4.5 percent in enrichment, to avoid angering the European parties, which are partners in the deal, and to urge them to take practical action against the broad US sanctions that tarnished Tehran’s benefits from the deal. nuclear.
However, these parties did nothing in this regard, and on the contrary, they have escalated their positions in recent months, especially after the victory of the US Democratic candidate, Joe Biden, in the recent US elections.
Additionally, recent US and European statements (to Biden and his team) have focused on presenting Iran’s missile program and regional policies for discussion and negotiation, with the aim of reaching a comprehensive agreement, and the latest of These statements were the one made by Biden’s candidate for the post of US national security adviser in the administration. Next, Jake Sullivan, for CNN
“The American, on Sunday, when he linked Washington’s return to the nuclear deal with Tehran’s return to the deal through a renewed commitment to the nuclear promises it halted, in addition to emphasizing the need to put the Iranian missile program under negotiation. during the negotiations expected after the next US administration begins its work. “
Based on these data, it appeared that Iran was trying to launch uranium enrichment at a rate of 20 percent, which is a high percentage, and hoping to go further. First, confirm in the last days of the losing mandate of US President Donald Trump that the strategy of “maximum pressure” that Trump exerted after his withdrawal from the nuclear agreement in 2018 did not achieve its objectives by forcing him to a comprehensive agreement, and today he is taking positions offensive with respect to the nuclear file. Second, through the move, he appears to pressure Biden to push him to take a different tack than Trump, and to distract him and the three European countries, France, Britain and Germany, which are partners in the deal. , from the repeated demand of the need to negotiate its missile program and its regional policies.
Here, Iran, through this remarkable escalation, is trying to impose its own agenda on any possible negotiations in the Biden era, so that it does not go beyond the nuclear issue on which it can make concessions, such as abandoning these nuclear steps and returning. to its obligations in exchange for the abolition of sanctions, as it considers that its missile program is a “red line” and will not accept any negotiations in this regard.
On the other hand, the most prominent question remains whether the next Biden administration will respond to the requirements of this Iranian escalation, or whether it and the European parties will go towards a similar escalation by insisting on including the Iranian missile program in any possible negotiations. and forming a global consensus against Iran in which the Trump administration has failed.
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