President Trump fired a warning shot to Iran after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that his country would begin enriching uranium beyond the threshold set by the nuclear deal.
Trump tweeted Wednesday that the consequences of the move would be severe.
“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!” Trump said.
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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 3, 2019
Rouhani, 70, said Wednesday that Iran would increase its percent concentration of uranium-235 beyond the 3.67% threshold this weekend. The level was set forth in the 2015 nuclear deal, which the U.S. withdrew from last year.
“Our enrichment rate is not going to be 3.67% anymore. It’s going to be as much as we want it to be,” Rouhani said.
The remark comes at a time of increased tensions between the two nations. The U.S. had planned airstrikes on Iranian facilities in response to Iran’s downing of a U.S. drone, but President Trump called off the move at the last moment.
Last month, the U.S. imposed new sanctions against Iran, targeting its leader and top officials. The U.S. also announced that it was sending an additional 1,000 troops to the Middle East after a pair of oil tankers were attacked in the Gulf of Oman.
