Pompeo: We Will Not Allow Iran to Acquire Nuclear Weapons

Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, stated on Wednesday, June 6, that the United States is monitoring Iran's actions to increase its uranium enrichment capacity. Pompeo wrote on Twitter: "We are monitoring reports regarding Iran's plans to increase its enrichment capacity. We will not allow Iran to produce nuclear weapons. Iran is aware of our resolve." The U.S. Secretary of State added: "This is another example of how Iran foolishly wastes its resources. It would not be surprising if protests continue in Iran." In response to the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear agreement with Iran, known as the JCPOA, and the reinstatement of sanctions, Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, ordered the Atomic Energy Organization to prepare for achieving 190,000 SWU of uranium enrichment "for now within the framework of the JCPOA." In this context, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization also announced on Wednesday that the necessary facilities for the construction of advanced centrifuges at the Natanz nuclear center will be ready within a month. Ali Akbar Salehi also stated that "the infrastructure for creating several hundred thousand SWU" in Natanz is ready and that Iran's new actions are "not contrary to the JCPOA." The spokesperson for the European Union's foreign policy also reacted to Iran's actions to increase uranium enrichment capacity, stating that this action does not help build trust at this "sensitive juncture." Meanwhile, Iran's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency warned on Wednesday that the Islamic Republic will not accept continuing to "fulfill its commitments under the JCPOA while restrictive actions and sanctions are in place." Donald Trump, the President of the United States, announced on May 8 that the U.S. would withdraw from the JCPOA and would not only reinstate suspended sanctions against Iran but also impose new penalties on Tehran. In this context, Reuters reported, citing diplomatic sources, that U.S. officials are traveling around the world to pressure countries to cut trade ties with Iran. Meanwhile, the three European countries involved in the nuclear agreement with Iran are trying to maintain the JCPOA while continuing economic relations with Tehran. The foreign ministers of the three European countries, along with Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, have requested that the U.S. exempt European companies contracted with Iran from Washington's sanctions. However, several major European companies have announced that they are ending their activities in Iran. Peugeot-Citroen, Maersk of Denmark, and Siemens of Germany are among the companies that have reported halting activities related to Iran in recent weeks.