Iran to enrich uranium up to 20% at Fordo facility

Iran on Saturday told nuclear inspectors it plans to enrich uranium up to 20% at its underground Fordo nuclear facility, a technical step away from weapons-grade levels.

The move puts yet more pressure on the nuclear deal between the country and western leaders.Plans were confirmed by the country's state-run IRNA news agency, which gave news of a letter sent by Iran to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) leaked overnight on Friday.

Russia's representative to the IAEA also acknowledged the letter on Twitter.

The decision comes after parliament passed a bill, later approved by a constitutional watchdog, aimed at hiking enrichment to pressure Europe into providing sanctions relief, while also serving as pressure ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, who has said he's willing to reenter the nuclear deal.

Heightened tensions continue between Iran and the U.S. in the waning days of the administration of President Donald Trump, who unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran's nuclear deal in 2018.

(IMAGE CREDITS:AP)