Iran injects gas in new centrifuges as atomic deal unravels

This November 1, 2019, satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the Fordo nuclear facility, just north of the holy city of Qom in Iran. The resumption of activity at Fordo pushes the risk of a wider confrontation involving Iran even higher after months of attacks across the Middle East that the U.S. blames on Tehran. (Satellite image ©2019 Maxar Technologies via AP)

DUBAI — Iran has injected uranium gas into centrifuges at its underground Fordo nuclear complex in its latest step away from its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

Iran said the uranium gas injection began early Thursday morning at Fordo. The move serves as a way to pressure Europe to offer it a way to sell its crude oil abroad and avoid the U.S. sanctions in place after President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the accord over a year ago.

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran also said in a statement it blocked an inspector from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, from entering its nuclear facility at Natanz last week. Iran said she was stopped over concerns she might be carrying “suspicious material.” /kga