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UN Confirms Iran Enriching Uranium in Excess of Nuclear Deal Limit

Ken Bredemeier

   WASHINGTON - The United Nations atomic watchdog agency has confirmed
   that Iran has surpassed the limits on how much it was allowed to enrich
   uranium under the 2015 international nuclear deal.

   The International Atomic Energy Agency said its inspectors verified
   Monday that Iran has passed 4.5% enrichment, breaching the 3.67% limit
   set in the accord aimed at restraining Tehran's nuclear weapons
   development.

   The announcement comes hours after Iran's nuclear energy agency said it
   had passed the limits and would also consider enriching uranium to 20%
   as the next step in its move to back away from its commitments under
   the nuclear deal.
   Iran said it could take such action unless it gets the help it wants
   from the accord's other signatories to overcome the crippling effect of
   U.S. economic sanctions imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump after he
   withdrew from the pact last year.

   Uranium enriched to 5% is sufficient to produce fuel for nuclear power
   plants, but still far below the 90% needed for building a nuclear
   weapon.

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