Salehi: We can reach significant enrichment capacity within a year and a half if the JCPOA is violated

The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization says, according to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, that in the event of a "violation of the JCPOA," Tehran can achieve "a significant amount of enrichment capacity" within a short period of a year and a half. According to Fars News Agency, Ali Akbar Salehi made this statement on Tuesday (November 29) in response to a question about Iran's reaction if the U.S. extends sanctions against the Islamic Republic. The U.S. House of Representatives recently extended the Iran sanctions law known as the "D'Amato" law for another 10 years, which has faced objections from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, some officials from the Iranian Foreign Ministry, and several Friday prayer leaders. Salehi also mentioned that following the Supreme Leader's remarks, the "JCPOA Monitoring Committee" held a meeting to discuss Iran's reactions if the extension of U.S. sanctions against Tehran is finalized. He added that this meeting was chaired by Hassan Rouhani and that "necessary predictions have been made, but it was decided that the committee's opinion on the JCPOA would be announced at the appropriate time." Salehi further stated, "We have made the necessary predictions, but these matters cannot be publicly discussed." He referred to a quote from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stating, "Fortunately, actions have been taken so that within a short period of a year and a half, we can reach a significant amount of enrichment capacity." The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization also advised, "We recommend that the other side does not enter this arena because they will be the main losers." He added, "The new U.S. president cannot unilaterally cancel an international agreement that has the support of the UN Security Council." Salehi noted that if this House of Representatives bill is enacted into law, it would "definitely be a violation of the JCPOA," and U.S. officials "acknowledge this." The day before, the Supreme Leader criticized the House of Representatives bill for the second time, stating that "starting a sanction" is no different from "starting it again after its expiration." The Iranian leader and his close associates have repeatedly accused the U.S. of failing to fulfill its commitments under the JCPOA, and following the new House bill, criticism of U.S. officials has intensified. Last Friday, several Friday prayer leaders in Iran warned that if this bill is enacted, Iran should have "no obligations under the JCPOA." Kazem Sedighi, the Friday prayer leader of Tehran, stated that if this bill is implemented, Iran will definitely react. Assadollah Imani, the Friday prayer leader of Shiraz, also added that if the House of Representatives bill is enacted, "Iran should have no obligations under the JCPOA." Youssef Tabatabai Nejad, the Friday prayer leader of Isfahan, described this bill as a violation of the Vienna nuclear agreement and added, "What did they do wrong in these 10 years that they would do it again in the next 10 years?" In this context, the Iranian leader has called "hastiness and negligence of details" the cause of "problems" in the nuclear agreement. Several Friday prayer leaders have warned about the possibility of the "extension of the D'Amato law" being enacted. Iran has denied conducting "new negotiations regarding the terms of the nuclear agreement."