Iran threatens to go nuclear and produce weapon-grade uranium; warns US and Europe

The tensions in the Middle East continue to simmer as Iran has raised a fresh threat to expand uranium enrichment to weapon-grade level. This threat implies that Tehran is moving forward with exiting the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if Western countries move ahead and reimpose the United Nations sanctions, Iranian state media reported.

The latest uranium enrichment warning from Tehran came as Iranian lawmakers approved the general outlines of a bill aimed at expanding military readiness and increasing defense funding in response to threats from Israel, according to a Newsweek report.

The threat from Tehran is followed by rising pressure from the US and its European allies to bring back the UN snapback sanctions, which allow for the quick reimposition of previously lifted UN sanctions, mainly on Iran, if the country violates its nuclear deal commitments (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the JCPOA)).


According to Axios, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom spoke over a phone call on Monday (July 14, 2025) and agreed to set an August deadline for a nuclear agreement.

If things don't fall in place and no deal is finalized by August 2025, the three European powers plan to enforce the UN "snapback" mechanism. If that happens, it will automatically reinstate global sanctions on Iran's arms trade, banking sector, and nuclear program.

How have the US and France reacted

US President Donald Trump said, "They [Iran] would like to talk. I'm in no rush to talk because we obliterated their site," as quoted by Newsweek. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said, "Without a firm, tangible, and verifiable commitment from Iran, we will [trigger snapback] by the end of August at the latest."

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned, "This move would mark the end of Europe's role in Iran's peaceful nuclear file."

Why is this a reason to worry

If the UN snapback sanctions are brought back into play, it could be a step towards dismantling the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). It could prompt Tehran toward enriching uranium to weapons-grade levels of 90 percent.

The root of this crisis lies in the U.S. pulling out of the deal in 2018 under President Donald Trump, which prompted Iran to decrease its compliance and accelerate its nuclear activities.

The Israeli and U.S. strikes directly on Iran's nuclear facilities in June 2025, along with diplomatic actions in the Middle East, have further heightened tensions, and if Iran does exit the NPT, it could end international oversight of its nuclear activities.