Iran threatens to enrich uranium to weapons grade if attacked by US, Israel again

Iran has threatened to cross the nuclear red line and push uranium enrichment to weapons-grade levels if the United States launches another strike on its territory. The warning came as some aides of President Donald Trump said he is now more seriously considering a resumption of combat operations in Iran.

Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for Iran’s parliamentary national security and foreign policy commission, said Tehran could enrich uranium up to 90 per cent purity, which is a level considered suitable for nuclear weapons.

"One of Iran's options in the event of another attack could be 90 percent enrichment. We will review it in the parliament," Rezaei wrote on X.

The remark landed less than 24 hours after Trump questioned the fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, saying the truce was on "life support" after Iran rejected a US-backed proposal aimed at ending months of conflict.

NUCLEAR DEADLOCK PUSHES CEASEFIRE TO BRINK

Iran’s nuclear programme is at the core of the dispute, particularly the fate of roughly 400 kilograms of uranium already enriched to 60 per cent purity, just below weapons-grade levels.

Trump declared last June that US and Israeli strikes during the 12-day war had "obliterated" Iran’s nuclear facilities. But US intelligence assessments have reportedly concluded that Tehran’s nuclear programme may still survive unless the highly enriched uranium stockpile is either destroyed or moved out of the country.

That disagreement has now become the main obstacle in negotiations.

Trump wants Iran to hand over the enriched uranium and abandon its nuclear programme. Tehran, however, says nuclear issues should only be discussed in the later stages of talks and has rejected demands to give up what it considers a sovereign right.

Iran has also demanded an end to the US naval blockade, compensation for war-related damage and a halt to military operations involving Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The collapse of confidence between both sides became more visible after Trump lashed out at Tehran’s latest response to the US proposal.

"I would call it the weakest right now, after reading that piece of garbage they sent us. I didn't even finish reading it," Trump told reporters on Monday. The US proposal aimed to freeze the fighting first before opening negotiations on more divisive issues, including Iran’s nuclear activities.

IRAN DIGS IN AS PRESSURE BUILDS

Iranian officials spent much of Tuesday projecting defiance rather than compromise. State-linked Fars news agency cited Mohammad Akbarzadeh, deputy political director of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, as saying Tehran had expanded its operational definition of the Strait of Hormuz under a new military strategy.

According to the report, Iran now considers a broad maritime zone stretching from Jask to Siri Island as part of its operational area.

Meanwhile, Washington stepped up its economic pressure campaign against Tehran, unveiling fresh sanctions on companies and individuals accused of helping Iran sell oil to China. US officials said the move was aimed at choking off money that allegedly helps fund Iran’s military operations and nuclear activities.

Trump is expected to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday, where Iran is likely to feature prominently in discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

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With inputs from agencies