The United States criticized Iran’s statement that it had begun the process of enriching uranium to 20%, well above the limit set in the 2015 nuclear deal that Washington abandoned, as a form of "nuclear extortion."
"Iran enriching uranium to 20% at Fordow is a clear attempt to increase its campaign of nuclear extortion, an attempt that will continue to fail," a State Department spokesperson said on condition of anonymity.
They were responding to a query about Iran’s statement that it had resumed 20% uranium enrichment at an underground nuclear facility, Reuters reported.
Iran's recent nuclear law, officially called 'Strategic Action to Lift Sanctions and Protect Nation’s Rights,' introduces a step-by-step strategy for the government to increase nuclear activities in few months if the other side failed to implement certain commitments. The law obliges the government to considerably speed up nuclear activities such as increasing uranium enrichment level to 20% and employing more advanced centrifuges.
