19:01 11-04-2026

Iran Enriches Uranium to 60% Amid US Pressure

Aerra Carnicom, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Iran has increased uranium enrichment to 60% in response to US pressure, as tensions escalate with strikes, ceasefire talks, and new negotiations ahead.

Iran moved to enrich uranium to 60% as a direct response to Washington’s pressure campaign following the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal, Russia’s envoy to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, has said.

According to Ulyanov’s account on X, Tehran’s decision was driven by what he described as the policy of «maximum pressure» pursued by the United States after leaving the JCPOA. He emphasized that the step was not linked to the development of nuclear weapons, but rather represented a reaction to external pressure.

Tensions escalated further on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched strikes on targets inside Iran, including in Tehran. The attacks reportedly caused destruction and civilian casualties. Washington and Tel Aviv framed the operation as a preventive measure, citing what they described as threats tied to Iran’s nuclear program. Later, US officials openly signaled an interest in pushing for a change of power in Tehran.

In the early hours of April 8, US President Donald Trump announced that Washington and Tehran had agreed to a two-week ceasefire. Shortly afterward, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi reported the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz — a critical artery through which roughly one-fifth of global oil, petroleum products, and liquefied gas supplies pass.

The next stage of the settlement process is scheduled for April 10, with talks set to take place in Islamabad. Media reports indicate that the negotiations may be based on a ten-point proposal put forward by Iran, which has reportedly also received approval from the United States.