February 11, 2021
Iran begins producing uranium metal
Iran began producing uranium metal last week according to the UN’s atomic watchdog agency, marking the latest violation of the 2015 nuclear deal (which the US withdrew from in 2018). While the metal used natural uranium (meaning that it wasn’t enriched to weapons-grade), the substance could be used to form the core of a nuclear weapon if enriched. Iranian officials have maintained that the country’s nuclear efforts are peaceful, but the ongoing violations of the 2015 accords have drawn significant international scrutiny (including a series of US sanctions).
