Iran to exceed uranium limit

Teheran urges Europe and US to 'go back to logic and the negotiating table'

Iran warned on Wednesday that it will boost uranium enrichment beyond the limit set in a landmark 2015 nuclear deal, further inflaming tensions with the United States.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that after this Sunday, Iran would enrich uranium beyond a fissile purity of 3.67 percent, the maximum allowed by the deal.

"As of July 7, the Arak reactor would be restored to its former condition, which they (other parties) used to claim was 'dangerous' and could produce plutonium" if the other deal partners fail to fully act on their commitments under the accord, Rouhani said.

He said the commitment under the 2015 deal reached with the US, China, Russia and European nations "will be set aside" and Teheran will enhance the enrichment level to "whatever amount, which we deem necessary and need".

Rouhani said Iran's decision concerning the reactor could only be reversed "if they (the other signatories) act on all of their commitments concerning the facility", according to Iran's PressTV.

"All of our actions can be returned to the previous condition within one hour, why are you worried?" he said, adding that Teheran has no intent to develop nuclear weapons.

Keyvan Khosravi, spokesman for Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said on Thursday that "by exiting the nuclear deal, Trump has wounded the path of diplomacy, ...the best antidote to all threats is active resistance".

US President Donald Trump tweeted in response to the announcement, warning Iran to "be careful with the threats".

"Iran has just issued a New Warning. Rouhani says that they will Enrich Uranium to 'any amount we want' if there is no new Nuclear Deal. Be careful with the threats, Iran. They can come back to bite you like nobody has been bitten before!"

Yin Gang, a researcher from the Institute of West-Asian and African Studies of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Iran may break through the limitation as progress in negotiations is unlikely within several days.

However, Yin said that if Iran resumes operating the reactor, the possibility of war is still small, "but sanctions will be increased."

"Iran wants to intimidate in negotiations with Europe and the US by not complying with the nuclear deal, rather than fighting with anyone," he said, emphasizing that Iran is the one that really wishes to hold talks.

Rouhani said the advice to Europe and the US is "to go back to logic and to the negotiating table".

"Go back to understanding, to respecting the law and resolutions of the United Nations Security Council,... all of us can abide by the nuclear deal," he said.

Mahmoud Alavi, Iran's intelligence minister, said Teheran and Washington could hold talks only if the US ended its sanctions and Iran's top authority allowed the talks between the arch foes, Iran state news agency IRNA reported on Thursday.

Reuters and AP contributed to this story.