• The U.N.’s nuclear watchdog recently confirmed Iran’s announcement that it was enriching uranium to 60% purity at its Fordow plant and planning major expansion of its enrichment capacity.
• International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi raised the alarm that “only countries making bombs” are enriching uranium at Iran’s level.

Iran’s announcements in recent months concerning its nuclear development have drawn condemnation and concern from parts of the international community, particularly the West.

But its near neighbor and longtime adversary Saudi Arabia likely feels that concern more acutely.

Iran should relinquish its nuclear program, which violates international agreements, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir said Wednesday from the World Economic Forum in Davos.

“I believe that Iran has an obligation to give up its nuclear program. I believe that Iran must be in compliance with the terms of the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran, if it wants to be a member in good standing of the international community needs to respect international law, needs to respect international order,” al-Jubeir told CNBC’s Hadley Gamble.

In November, the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog confirmed Iran’s announcement that it was enriching uranium to 60% purity at its Fordow plant and planning major expansion of its enrichment capacity.

International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi raised the alarm that “only countries making bombs” are enriching uranium at Iran’s level — that’s just one technical step away from weapons grade, which is 90% purity.

Under the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal — which involved the U.S. and other powers and lifted economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program — Iran’s uranium enrichment was limited to 3.67%, enough for a civilian nuclear energy program.

Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes and that having one is its sovereign right.

Months of negotiations between Iran and the Biden administration via European intermediaries came to a halt in September over inability to get past certain points of disagreement. Shortly after, a popular protest movement centered on women’s rights swept Iran and saw its government crack down violently on protesters, drawing international condemnation.

In addition to its nuclear activities, al-Jubeir denounced Iran’s involvement in other countries via its proxy groups like Hezbollah, a Shia political and militant group based in Lebanon with operations all over the region.

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https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/18/iran-has-an-obligation-to-give-up-its-nuclear-program-saudi-minister.html