Iran can resume 20-percent enrichment in 2-3 days: Official

Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), told Fars news agency on Sunday that officials should be prepared for a possible resumption of the nuclear activities suspended under the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement.

"We will not begin the 20-percent enrichment for now, but we have to be ready to resume the activities halted due to the JCPOA if needed and if we see the JCPOA has no benefits," he said, referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

"Currently, pumps, monitors and other things are ready at Fordow [enrichment facility]. It is in fact like a vehicle ready to move with its key in its place," Kamalvandi pointed out.

The official said, "The 20-percent enrichment could be done swiftly and we are able to begin the 20-percent enrichment within a maximum of two or three days."

The official also accused the Americans of seeking to prevent Iran's sale of its surplus heavy water.

"We have sold part of our surplus heavy water and have good customers right now, but the Americans have approached some of the customers and told them not to buy from Iran," he said.

Kamalvandi said, "Whether the JCPOA is in place or not, the heavy water market in the world is important for us and in addition to fulfilling our own needs, we can sell the remaining heavy water."

On May 8, US President Donald Trump announced Washington's pullout from the nuclear deal, vowing to reinstate nuclear sanctions on Iran and impose “the highest level” of economic bans on the Islamic Republic.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo later threatened Iran with the “strongest sanctions in history” if it did not comply with a list of steep demands, including ending uranium enrichment and closing a heavy water reactor.

Iran has said it would make a decision on its future role in the JCPOA in the coming weeks after its negotiations with the other signatories of the accord are complete.

Tehran wants the European parties to give assurances that Iran’s interests would still be protected under the deal without the US.

Kamalvandi said the Islamic Republic does not trust the Europeans given their record and thus needs "real guarantees" from them.

"If the Europeans hesitate to respond to our demands, Iran reserves the right to begin its halted nuclear activities," he said.

"The Europeans know that the US move to leave the JCPOA was wrong, but our demands should be implemented and taken into practice," he said, warning that Iran would withdraw from the deal if its interests were not safeguarded.