Iranian lawmakers offer bill to increase uranium enrichment

Hard-line members of Iran’s parliament have introduced a bill that would increase uranium enrichment to a 60 percent level, enough to produce a nuclear bomb.

The bill was offered by lawmakers who oppose Iranian President Hasan Rouhani, according to Reuters. The new leader inked an interim nuclear deal with the U.S. and several other countries in November that slows or suspends parts of Iran’s nuclear program.

{mosads}The deal has come under criticism in Iran and in the U.S. from lawmakers who say it is a mistake to soften sanctions on Iran without agreeing to stop uranium enrichment.

Rouhani has insisted Iran would never agree to that, but the legislation indicates political elements in Iran are worried about a shift.

The bill would “oblige the government” to enrich uranium to “60 percent level in order to provide fuel for submarine engines if the sanctions are tightened and Iran’s nuclear powers are ignored [by major powers],” lawmaker Mehdi Mousavinejad told the English language Press TV website, according to Reuters.

The wire service quoted Iran’s official IRNA news agency as saying the bill was introduced by 100 lawmakers, giving it “double urgency” status and meaning it could be discussed in Parliament within a week.

While a Western diplomat told Reuters that Iran’s Parliament lacks power, the move could put pressure on lawmakers in the U.S. to move forward again with new sanctions.

The Obama administration has sought to convince Congress to hold off on new sanctions, arguing it would put both the interim deal and a later one it hopes to negotiate at risk.

There are some signs the bill in Iran is meant to give its government more leverage given the threats from U.S. lawmakers.  “This draft bill has been prepared in reaction to America’s hostile measures,” Mousavinejad told the official IRNA news agency on Tuesday.

The new sanctions proposed in the U.S. would impose penalties on Iran, if negotiators fail to reach a final deal.