Iran Threatens to Enrich Uranium to 93% Purity if Deal Stalls

John Kirby, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, speaks to reporters during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, US, June 23, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
John Kirby, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, speaks to reporters during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, US, June 23, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
TT
20

Iran Threatens to Enrich Uranium to 93% Purity if Deal Stalls

John Kirby, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, speaks to reporters during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, US, June 23, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
John Kirby, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, speaks to reporters during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, US, June 23, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

General Mohammad Ismail Kothari, a parliamentary deputy for Tehran, threatened Thursday that his country could increase uranium enrichment from 60 percent to 93 percent purity, which is deemed “weapons’ grade” if the other parties continued to delay the revival of the nuclear agreement.

State-run ISNA news agency quoted Kothari as saying that Iran had the ability to raise uranium enrichment from 60 percent to 93 percent; which is deemed a nuclear bomb, adding: “Although we are not pursuing this case; if the other party is late, we have the ability to do that.”

“Now they are the ones who need us,” he remarked.

After 16 months of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington, EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell said on Aug. 8 that the EU had made a final offer to overcome the impasse on reviving the agreement. Tehran has requested amendments to the text. Washington responded last week to the Iranian comments.

Iran is expected to complete the revision of the US response at the expert level on Friday, before sending the review to the Iranian National Security Council, which makes the nuclear decision under the direct supervision of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Meanwhile, a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry said Thursday that Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian told his Emirati counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, that his country was preparing a response to the parties of the negotiations.”

“Iran is carefully reviewing the text drafted by the European Union. We need stronger guarantees from the other side to reach a permanent agreement,” the minister added in a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart in Moscow.

In response to this position, White House National Security spokesman John Kirby told reporters: “So I don’t know what guarantees he’s talking about… Although, as I said earlier, we are cautiously optimistic; we are also aware that there are still gaps, and we are trying to bridge these gaps by showing goodwill and negotiating through appropriate channels and not in public.”

Kirby noted that US officials believed that the two sides were closer now than they have been for months.

“We do believe we are closer now than we have been in certain recent weeks and months due in large part to Iran being willing to drop some of their demands that were not related to the deal at all,” he told reporters.



Crew of Greek Ship Hit Off Yemen Safe but Vessel Risks Sinking

The Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Magic Seas is seen in Ambelakia Bay, Salamis Island, Greece, Aug. 9, 2022. (Nektarios Papadakis via AP)
The Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Magic Seas is seen in Ambelakia Bay, Salamis Island, Greece, Aug. 9, 2022. (Nektarios Papadakis via AP)
TT
20

Crew of Greek Ship Hit Off Yemen Safe but Vessel Risks Sinking

The Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Magic Seas is seen in Ambelakia Bay, Salamis Island, Greece, Aug. 9, 2022. (Nektarios Papadakis via AP)
The Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Magic Seas is seen in Ambelakia Bay, Salamis Island, Greece, Aug. 9, 2022. (Nektarios Papadakis via AP)

The 19-member crew of a Greek bulk carrier severely damaged in the Red Sea by repeated attacks, most likely by Houthi militants, are safe and will arrive in Djibouti later on Monday, the ship's operator said.

However, the fate of the Liberian-flagged Magic Seas was unclear, with the vessel at risk of sinking, said Michael Bodouroglou, a representative of its operator Stem Shipping.

Sunday's assault off the southwest coast of Yemen was the first such incident reported in the vital shipping corridor since mid-April. In a raid lasting more than four hours, the Magic Seas was attacked by gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades from skiffs, as well as by sea drones and missiles.

The ship was carrying iron and fertilizers from China to Türkiye, and Stem Shipping received no warning of the attack, Bodouroglou told Reuters.

"It struck us like lightning," he said.

Since the war in Gaza began in October 2023, the Houthis have fired at Israel and at shipping in the Red Sea in what the group says are acts of solidarity with the Palestinians.

Israel has struck Houthi targets in response, launching strikes on Monday for the first time in nearly a month. A US-Houthi ceasefire deal in May did not include Israel.

The Magic Seas had made a port call to Israel in the past but the latest transit appeared low-risk as it had nothing to do with Israel, Bodouroglou said.

A passing vessel had picked up the crew from lifeboats and would deliver them to Djibouti in the coming hours, in an operation coordinated by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), he said.

"Fortunately, we had no injuries," Bodouroglou added.

The crew had reported fires at the vessel's forepeak. The engine room and at least two of its holds were flooded, and electricity was cut off.

"We don't have any further information since the crew, terrorized, abandoned the vessel," Bodouroglou said.