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Iran nuclear deal: developments since US exit Tehran, Sept 26 (AFP) Sep 26, 2019 Iran's move to fire up advanced uranium enrichment centrifuges is another blow to the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, which has unravelled since the United States unilaterally withdrew in May 2018. Here are key developments in the bitter standoff.
"We cannot prevent an Iranian nuclear bomb under the decaying and rotten structure of the current agreement," he says. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says he is ready to discuss with the remaining parties -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- ways to save the deal. But he threatens to resume uranium enrichment if the talks fail.
In August and November, Washington reimposes tough sanctions, particularly targeting Iran's oil and finance sectors. Major international firms halt their activities or projects in Iran. Trump in May 2019 annuls sanctions exemptions enjoyed by eight countries on oil imports.
Trump announces new measures against Iran's steel and mining sectors. Tehran has so far respected its commitments under the deal, according to the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA. But Iran announces on July 1 that it has exceeded the 300-kilogramme limit on its enriched uranium reserves set by the accord. On the 7, Tehran confirms that it has breached the accord's uranium enrichment cap of 3.67 percent. It threatens to abandon more commitments after 60 days unless a solution is found. A day later it says it has enriched uranium to 4.5 percent.
Trump says he would be prepared to meet his Iranian counterpart Rouhani "if the circumstances were correct". The Iranian president tells Washington to "take the first step" by lifting all sanctions. On September 4, Rouhani tells the cabinet he does not think there will be a deal, shortly after the US imposes further sanctions.
Tehran, which denies involvement, is accused by the United States, Saudi Arabia, Britain, France and Germany of being responsible. The crisis revives fears of a military confrontation between the US and Iran. It comes after Trump said in June he had approved a retaliatory strike after Iran's Revolutionary Guards shot down a US drone, but cancelled it at the last minute.
The next day, the IAEA says Iran has started using advanced models of centrifuges to enrich uranium. But Rouhani says Iran would "of course" hold talks with the US if Trump lifts sanctions and ends his policy of maximum pressure on Tehran.
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