Iran says it's capable of enriching uranium with 90% purity
The Iranian president said his country possesses the know-how to enrich uranium at the weapons-grade 90% level, but he declared that Tehran is not in pursuit of nuclear bombs.
Two days after lifting its uranium enrichment to the 60% level, Iran said it is capable of even further raising the rate to 90%, which is sufficient for the production of nuclear bombs. Tehran, however, renewed a pledge not to seek such weapons.
“Today, if we want to, we are able to enrich uranium at the 90% level, but we are honoring our own commitment not to go after bombs,” Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said at a televised Cabinet meeting April 15.
Rouhani was attempting to allay Western concerns that have been expressed after Tehran's announcement that it was starting enrichment at the 60% level. "What you do have in your heads about us paving the way to develop a bomb is absolutely wrong."
The comments were reminiscent of remarks back in February from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who said Tehran was not seeking nuclear weapons, but it will not be restricted to the 20% level either. Khamenei warned that Iran's enrichment could go as high as 60% “if need be.” Less than two months later, Iran declared on Tuesday the 60% level was in the pipeline.
