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In a pure braggadocio fashion, Iran announced on Monday plans to resume 20% uranium enrichment at its Fordow enrichment complex.  Its action is a violation of a previous accord made with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2015, Reuters reported.

“A few minutes ago, the process of producing 20% enriched uranium has started in Fordow enrichment complex,” Ali Rabiei, a government spokesman, told Iranian media.

The announcement comes on the heels of deteriorating relations between the U.S. and Iran after President Donald Trump reneged on the Iranian Nuclear Deal previously negotiated by the Obama administration.

Trump reimposed sanctions and launched a series of military actions against the country. One of which, resulted in the death of Qasem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force who reportedly killed Americans and other Westerners in various actions.

On top of direct action taken by the U.S. government, the Israeli's allegedly assassinated Mohsen Fakhrizadeh Mahabadi, a leading nuclear scientist in Iran a little over a month ago. Iran has couched its measures to ramp up uranium enrichment on the attack led by Israel as well as other actions taken by the U.S.

To make matters worse, Iran captured a South Korean tanker, the MT Hankuk Chemi, and detained its crew, according to the Guardian. Currently, the ship sits in the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. South Korea has demanded the release of the ship and has activated its forces in the Strait of Hormuz.

The IAEA confirmed Iran's enrichment efforts, saying in a public statement, “Iran today began feeding uranium already enriched up to 4.1 percent U-235 into six centrifuge cascades at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant for further enrichment up to 20%."

It remains to be seen if Iran plans to use the enrichment scheme and seized tanker as a bargaining chip with the incoming Biden administration.

Iran demands full compliance by all parties to the deal to reverse actions

That said, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted “Our measures are fully reversible upon FULL compliance by ALL (parties to the deal)." Of course, no one knows for sure as to what Iran's intentions are with the scheme.

Regardless, Iran's aims to pursue 20% enrichment cannot go unpunished. Albeit, policymakers have a difference in approach. While the Biden administration has said it will attempt to revive the Iranian Nuclear Deal, the Trump administration has opted for a more confrontational tone.

It will be up to the incoming Biden administration to determine America's course of action towards Iran.

Will the U.S. join the global community to create another deal? Or, has Biden found the Trump approach to be palatable but he hasn't said so? We will find out in the coming weeks as Biden's electoral confirmation is set for this week.

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