Thread by @laurnorman

Diplomats are concerned by steps from Majlis to push #Iran into major new breaches of #IranDeal even though parliament has no real power in this sphere. Rescinding Additional Protocol and building up stock of 120kg of 20% enriched uranium would gut remaining parts of #IranDeal-1-

That number is not randomly chosen either. It's half the 240 kg that formed the Israeli red line for how much 20% material Iran would need for a nuclear weapon. But one diplo most alarmed by a less noticed feature of bill: that Iran start working on uranium metal again...-2-

One diplomat said that is the most brazen signal that #Iran could resume nuclear weapons work (not just nuc;lear activity). Uranium metal is not for civilian purposes. It's used to build a nuclear weapon. That would be a huge step if regime pursued. (Again IF). -3-

Here's our story on the latest developments following Friday's killing of Fakhrizadeh. With @SuneEngel and @AresuEqbali. wsj.com/articles/nucle… END

CORRECTING THIS TWEET: Apologies, I was wrong to say that uranium metal has no civilian uses. Experts say it has limited civilian uses, including things like sealing metal on containers. Also as fuel in some research reactors. However it is simply not clear from Majlis text -3A-

what kind of uranium metal they will produce and for what purposes. What is true is that if you search through IAEA reports, you see that the Agency had lots of questions about Iran's metal uranium work in the context of suspected nuclear weapons-related work -3b-

And it is the case that a snr western diplomat noted the inclusion of the uranium metal production in the Majlis bill as a particularly ominous sign that lawmakers were signaling the government should pursue something so clearly linked to nuclear weapons work. Still, APOLS. -3c-

Either way it is clearly a breach of the JCPOA which, because of the nuclear weapon concern, says "For 15 years, Iran will not engage in producing or acquiring plutonium or uranium metals or their alloys...or casting, forming, or machining plutonium or uranium metal."