Iran News Round Up

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened to increase Iran’s uranium enrichment capacity on June 4 during commemorative ceremonies on the death anniversary of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Khamenei noted that the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) is “obligated to quickly take the necessary preparations in order to reach [an enrichment capacity] of 190,000 separative work units (SWU)... starting [on June 5].” Khamenei stated that the preparatory actions “for the time being, are under the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).” Khamenei also said that Iran will not tolerate both sanctions and limitations on its nuclear programs. Khamenei’s directive is consistent with President Hassan Rouhani’s May 8 order following President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the JCPOA. Rouhani ordered the AEOI to have the “necessary preparation” to start “unrestricted industrial [uranium] enrichment… if needed.” Khamenei’s speech is also in line with his July 2014 speech wherein the Supreme Leader claimed that Iran requires 190,000 SWU of enrichment capacity for its energy needs. (Khamenei.ir)

Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya confirmed that Israel and Russia agreed to terms for the withdrawal of Iranian forces and Iranian-supported forces from southwestern Syria near the Israel border on June 1. Nebenzya noted that the “agreement has been achieved” but also noted that he “cannot say whether or not the agreement has been implemented [as of yet].” Nebenzya said that the agreement will be implemented “in the near future.” The purported agreement for the expulsion of Iranian forces and Iranian-backed proxies from southwestern Syria follows a series of Israeli military strikes on Iranian personnel and assets in Syria, high-level meetings between Israeli and Russian officials, and reports of “indirect negotiations” between Iranian and Israeli officials with Jordanian mediation. (Radio Farda) (Haaretz) (E)

The Iranian Oil Ministry announced that tankers began to transport crude oil from Kirkuk, Iraqi Kurdistan into Iran for refinement on June 3 as part of an oil swap agreement between Iran and Iraq. Trucks will transport between 30,000 to 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd) from Kirkuk into Iran for refinement. Iraqi Oil Minister Jabbar al Luaibi announced the signing of the agreement in November 2017 after Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) seized Kirkuk oil fields on October 15, 2017 following the Iraqi Kurdistan independence referendum on September 25, 2017. (SHANA)