President Donald Trump accused Iran on Wednesday of secretly enriching uranium for a long time and warned that US sanctions will be increased soon.
Trump made the threat hours before an emergency meeting at the International Atomic Energy Agency dealing with Tehran's breach of the 2015 nuclear deal with the world powers.
"Iran has long been secretly 'enriching,' in total violation of the terrible 150 Billion Dollar deal made by John Kerry and the Obama Administration. Remember, that deal was to expire in a short number of years. Sanctions will soon be increased, substantially!" Trump said on Twitter, referring to the previous administration's decision to let Iran trade with the world in exchange for temporary restrictions on its nuclear program.
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The United States used an emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's board on Wednesday to pressure Iran over breaches of the 2015 international nuclear deal. In a statement issued ahead of the meeting, it accused the Islamic republic of extortion and pledged to continue sanctions until the regime agreed to amend the deal so that it extends to areas uncovered by the original document.
Trump has said he is willing to talk with Iran's leaders and negotiate a deal that would impose permanent restrictions on its nuclear and missile programs. He has also stressed that any new deal would have to address Iran's malign influence in the region.
In the past two weeks Iran has breached two limits central to the 2015 nuclear deal, which aimed to extend the time Iran would need to obtain enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon.
President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that Iran's measures were within the framework of the deal, which Trump pulled the United States out of last year.
