Natanz houses thousands of fast-spinning centrifuges, the machines at the core of the uranium enrichment process. AdvertisementStory continues below advertisementThe diplomatic fallout from the Natanz incident threatened to be as significant as any physical damage. Days later, Iran announced that it was increasing its uranium enrichment to 60 percent purity — a provocative, threefold increase over its previous enrichment levels. Iran’s announcement came in the midst of delicate negotiations in Vienna intended to revive the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers and threatened to upend the talks. Story continues below advertisementThe 2015 nuclear agreement lifted then-existing sanctions in exchange for Tehran’s acceptance of strict limits on its nuclear program.

Source: Washington Post April 17, 2021 15:57 UTC