US: Iran Uses Nuclear Program to Threaten Regional Security

On Saturday, the US Department of State said that the Iranian regime is using its nuclear program to the extort international community and threaten regional security.

In a statement, the state department added, “Iran has a legal obligation under the nuclear agreement - signed with it in 2015 - to allow inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to access Iranian nuclear sites."

The statement underlined the great importance of Iran's compliance with these obligations, adding that the brinkmanship policy will not strengthen Iran's position, but rather lead to more isolation and pressure on it.

Moreover, the US reiterated its full support for the continuation of the IAEA's work in Iran, stressing the need for Iran's expulsion of international inspectors to be met with global condemnation.

In December, the Iranian parliament passed a law to expel the nuclear inspectors of the IAEA unless all sanctions on Iran are lifted.

Last Monday, the Iranian government announced that it had begun enriching uranium up to 20% purity at its underground Fordo nuclear facility.

The move is considered a significant breach of the nuclear agreement signed with world powers in 2015.