TEHRAN: Iran has warned that it could enrich uranium up to 90 percent purity — a level considered weapons-grade — if the country faces another military attack, escalating tensions amid stalled ceasefire and nuclear negotiations with the United States.
The warning came from Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the Iranian parliament’s national security and foreign policy commission, who said Tehran could reconsider its nuclear policy if hostilities resume.
“One of Iran’s options in the event of another attack could be 90% enrichment,” Rezaei wrote on X, adding that the matter would be reviewed in parliament.
The statement comes after US President Donald Trump claimed last month that Iranian nuclear facilities had been “obliterated” during joint US and Israeli strikes carried out in a 12-day conflict.
Despite those claims, uncertainty remains over the location and status of approximately 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity, which experts say could potentially be refined further to weapons-grade level.
According to US intelligence assessments, Iran’s nuclear program may not be significantly weakened unless the highly enriched uranium stockpile is either destroyed or removed from the country.
The nuclear issue remains a central obstacle in ongoing diplomatic talks between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending the conflict that began in late February.
Iran has reportedly insisted that nuclear matters should be addressed at a later stage of negotiations, while Washington continues demanding that Tehran transfer its highly enriched uranium stockpile abroad and halt domestic enrichment activities.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, said the United States had “no alternative” but to accept what he described as Iran’s “14-point proposal.”
“The longer they drag their feet, the more American taxpayers will pay for it,” Ghalibaf warned.
He further stated that Iran’s armed forces were fully prepared for any possible escalation.
“We are prepared for all options; they will be surprised,” he said.
At the same time, hopes for a broader peace agreement appeared to weaken after Donald Trump dismissed Iran’s latest ceasefire proposal as “garbage” and warned that the ceasefire was “on life support.”
Trump told reporters that he did not even finish reading Tehran’s proposal, which reportedly included demands for an end to regional hostilities, the lifting of sanctions, compensation for war damages, and recognition of Iran’s authority over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a major flashpoint in the conflict. Before tensions escalated, the waterway handled nearly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Shipping activity through the strait has dropped sharply, causing disruptions to global energy markets and pushing Brent crude oil prices above $104 per barrel.
Energy analysts say reduced tanker movement and export cuts by oil-producing nations have further tightened global supply, while OPEC oil output reportedly fell to its lowest level in more than two decades in April.
The United States has also imposed fresh sanctions targeting individuals and companies accused of helping Iran export oil to China, as part of efforts to limit funding for Tehran’s military and nuclear programs.
Meanwhile, diplomatic activity has intensified internationally.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held discussions with counterparts from Australia and the United Kingdom regarding efforts to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
At the same time, Hakan Fidan is expected to hold talks in Qatar focused on the conflict and maritime security in the Gulf region.
Pakistan has also continued playing a diplomatic mediation role between Iran and the United States in efforts to prevent further escalation.
In the United States, public opinion surveys suggest growing domestic concern over the conflict, with many Americans reportedly dissatisfied with the administration’s explanation for the war and increasingly worried about rising fuel prices ahead of congressional elections.
