For years the Iranian regime has failed to live up to its word. It employs hostage taking and other forms of blackmail to negotiate in world affairs. That track record continues.
On July 1 the Iranian regime made good on its threat to breach the 300-kilogram uranium stockpile limit under the 2015 nuclear deal. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Yukiya Amano, confirmed that Iran has exceeded the limit.
The regime is advancing its nuclear program in a dangerous game of brinkmanship with the international community. “Iran is using nuclear blackmail against the remaining parties to the deal,” U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook said June 24 when reports indicated Iran planned to surpass its limit for uranium stockpiles.
Now the Iranian regime is threatening to enrich uranium to a level beyond any peaceful need.
The Iranian regime has taken new steps to advance its nuclear ambitions. It’s the regime’s latest attempt at nuclear extortion. The world’s top sponsor of terrorism can never be allowed to enrich uranium – at any level. https://t.co/blJ210eRaD pic.twitter.com/UTpvM5zTWd
— Department of State (@StateDept) July 2, 2019
The case for “maximum pressure”
President Trump ended U.S. participation in the flawed Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions. The president said the deal did not put a permanent stop on Iran’s nuclear ambitions and end its other hostile activities.
Iran’s latest actions underscore the reason the U.S. withdrew from the nuclear deal and the need for the administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign to get the Iranian regime back to the negotiating table.
“No nuclear deal should ever allow the Iranian regime to enrich uranium at any level,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said July 1, urging the Iranian regime to halt all uranium enrichment.
