The situation is becoming increasingly critical. Germany, France, Britain and the US are watching Iran with great concern. There it was announced that the country wanted to produce even more nuclear material of potentially weapon-worthy quality.
Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said on Tuesday those responsible had begun significantly enriching uranium at a second site, namely in Fordow, south of the capital Tehran. It is precisely there that the production of uranium enriched to 60 percent has started. Uranium enriched to about 90 percent is needed to make nuclear bombs. Iran insists its nuclear program is purely for civilian purposes.
An insult to the United States. Because the plans of US President Joe Biden (80) to conclude a new nuclear deal with Iran have now been superseded. Such a deal was negotiated until September. There was already a corresponding agreement from 2015: it obliged Iran to limit its nuclear program and not to build nuclear weapons. However, the US government led by President Donald Trump (76) stepped out four years ago. The “New York Times” is now calling this situation a “new era of direct confrontation.”
Sanctions imposed on Iran
Berlin, London and Paris also condemned the expansion of Iran’s nuclear program in a joint statement on Tuesday. They would now discuss how to respond to it. The US has already responded and imposed sanctions on Iran. Not only in view of uranium production, but also because the Iranian regime supports Russia in the war against Ukraine. The Russian government was provided with kamikaze drones to destroy Ukraine’s infrastructure. Much to the chagrin of the US, which passively supports Western Ukraine by supplying arms and providing aid.
Iran said it sent the drones before the Russian invasion. However, Iranian military advisers have been killed in Crimea, as recently revealed. According to the Guardian, they helped the Russians pilot the drones.
Iran and Russia share a common hatred of the West. The previously distant states are increasingly joining forces, particularly to pursue their dictatorial interests. Western intelligence services suspect that Iran also produces missiles for Russia. However, there is no evidence.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Sees a Conspiracy
An important reason is that the Iranian regime is under internal pressure. Since the death of Mahsa Amini († 22) at the hands of vice squads, protests have swept the country, with people demanding the overthrow of the government – and they are not abating. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, 83, sees the demonstrations as a conspiracy for which the United States is provisionally responsible.
Against this background, it is clear that if Iran also supplies the Russians with missiles, the US will look for ways to prevent this. However, this in turn carries the risk of an escalation of the war in Ukraine. Because Russia has so far hesitated to block western arms supplies.