Trump: Iran 'Playing With Fire' by Breaching Uranium Limit Set by 2015 Nuclear Deal

JERUSALEM, Israel - President Donald Trump said Iran is "playing with fire" after the Islamic regime said it exceeded the 300kg low-enriched uranium stockpile limit set in place by the 2015 nuclear accord.

"They know what they're playing with and I think they're playing with fire," Trump told reporters at the White House when asked about Iran Monday.

Israel also urged European leaders to impose sanctions on Tehran. Britain, one of the five remaining countries signed to the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran, called on the country "to avoid any further steps" away from the nuclear deal. 

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted by Iran's ISNA news agency that Tehran had fulfilled what it had promised to do. 

"We have clearly said what we will do and we will act accordingly. We deem it as part of our rights under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action," he added, referring to the nuclear deal's official name.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) sent inspectors to Iran to confirm the reports. 

An IAEA spokesman told CBN News that Iran did indeed exceed the nuclear limits. 

"We can confirm that IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano has informed the Board of Governors that the Agency verified on 1 July that Iran's total enriched uranium stockpile exceeded 300kg of UF6 enriched up to 3.67% U-235 (or the equivalent in different chemical forms)."

Iran threatened to exceed the maximum allowed amount of uranium if the remaining signatories - Britain, China, France, Germany, and Russia - fail to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal. The Trump administration pulled out of the deal in May 2018 and has repeatedly hit Iran with heavy economic sanctions. Trump said the deal was flawed and wants Iran to renegotiate it -- something Iran refuses to do.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani gave the remaining signatories until June 7 to save the deal.

Under the nuclear deal, Iran is only allowed to produce low-enriched uranium, which has a 3-4% concentration. This can be used to create fuel for nuclear power plants.

For uranium to be used in weapons, it needs to be enriched at 90% or more.

Iran threatens to start enriching uranium beyond 3.67%

In a statement released by the White House on Monday, the Trump administration said maximum economic pressure against Iran will continue. 

"The Iranian regime took action today to increase its uranium enrichment. It was a mistake under the Iran nuclear deal to allow Iran to enrich uranium at any level," the statement said. "There is little doubt that even before the deal's existence, Iran was violating its terms. We must restore the longstanding nonproliferation standard of no enrichment for Iran. The United States and its allies will never allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons.

Maximum pressure on the Iranian regime will continue until its leaders alter their course of action," the statement continued.  "The regime must end its nuclear ambitions and its malign behavior."