Iran has begun enriching uranium to 60 percent purity, its highest level ever, a top official there revealed Friday.
The move; initially revealed by Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf on Twitter and later confirmed by state television; comes on the final day of talks in Vienna between countries involved in the 2015 nuclear deal.
“The young and God-believing Iranian scientists managed to achieve a 60 [percent] enriched uranium product,” Qalibaf tweeted. “I congratulate the brave nation of Islamic Iran on this success. The Iranian nation’s willpower is miraculous and can defuse any conspiracy.”
The move is likely to raise tensions even as Iran negotiates in Vienna over a way to allow the U.S. back into the agreement and lift the crushing economic sanctions it faces. However, its scope also provides Iran with a way to quickly de-escalate if it chose.
The announcement also marks a significant escalation after the attack; that damaged centrifuges at Natanz, an attack this past weekend suspected of having been carried out by Israel. While Israel has yet to claim it, it comes amid a long-running shadow war between the two Mideast rivals.
A top official said only a few grams an hour of uranium gas would be enriched up to 60% purity; triple the level it once did but at a rate far slower than what Tehran could produce. International inspectors already said Iran planned to do so above-ground at its Natanz nuclear site; not deep within its underground halls hardened to withstand airstrikes.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday; that Iran was considering enriching uranium further in response to an attack carried out by Israel on a key nuclear plant the day before.
“Of course, the security and intelligence officials must give the final reports, but apparently it is the crime of the Zionists, and if the Zionists act against our nation, we will answer it,” Rouhani claimed said during a televised cabinet meeting.
“Our response to their malice is replacing the damaged centrifuges with more advanced ones and ramping up the enrichment to 60 percent at the Natanz facility.”