‘Iran shows muscle’ as it hijacks tanker and ramps up nuclear program

Elite forces have more often confiscated tankers in the bustling strait in recent years. It’s also a show of power and part of the growing influence of extremists within the regime, Jafari explains. By this he means the most conflictual camp and faithful to the conservative line of spiritual leaders.

“It started after the United States, under Trump’s leadership, withdrew from the nuclear deal and introduced sanctions against Iran,” Jafari said. “The relatively moderate President Rouhani had his fate tied in with this deal. He has since lost a lot of popularity.”

Possibility of nuclear weapons one step closer

The rise of the hard line also explains why Iran is speeding up uranium enrichment, according to Jafari. Five years ago it was agreed that a maximum purity of up to 3.67% could be enriched and only for nuclear power production. But today, that limit has been officially crossed, confirms the IAEA nuclear watchdog.

Iran had already announced this decision in advance and plans to increase to 20%. This brings Tehran closer to developing nuclear weapons. This requires a purity of 90 percent.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has said Iran intends to build nuclear weapons, which Iran firmly denies. Furthermore, Netanyahu has said that Israel, itself a nuclear force, will not allow it. Brussels also condemned Iran’s provocation. The big question now is what the United States will do.

Bidens plan?

Trump exerted maximum pressure on Iran during his tenure as president. Today it has become clear that an additional aircraft carrier is being deployed in the Persian Gulf. Last week, B52 bombers flew over the Middle East as a deterrent. But what does Biden do when he becomes president on January 20?

His team has previously said Democrats want to revert to the 2015 deal. But according to Jafari, who is also affiliated with Princeton University in the United States, the terms are still unclear.

Foreign allies, Republicans and hard-line supporters in the Democratic Party are pressuring Biden to agree only if Iran stops its long-range missiles, but this missile program is so important to Iran that this will not be an option. with their nuclear program. “