Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened that his country could begin enriching uranium up to 60% purity, a day after Tehran and the United Nations’ atomic watchdog resolved a standoff over nuclear inspections. 

Iran “will enrich uranium to any extent that is necessary for the country,” an account believed to belong to Khamenei tweeted. “Iran's enrichment level may reach 60% to meet the country's needs.” 

After former President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018 and reimposed harsh economic sanctions, Iran began steadily violating its terms of the deal. In January, Iran announced that its Fordow nuclear plant was enriching uranium to 20% purity, far surpassing the JCPOA’s 3.67% limit and bringing Iran closer to possessing weapons-grade fuel. 

Khamenei’s comments come as Iran presses ahead with its plan to suspend implementation of the so-called Additional Protocol, ending the short-notice inspections of its nuclear facilities conducted by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).