Enriching uranium is the answer to your evilness, says Iran President Rouhani

Hassan Rouhani, Iranian president

Iran's president on Wednesday called Tehran's decision to enrich uranium up to 60 per cent after saboteurs attacked a nuclear site "an answer to your evilness," linking the incident to ongoing talks in Vienna over its tattered nuclear deal with world powers.

Israel, which hasn't commented on the attack, is suspected of carrying out this weekend's assault at the Natanz nuclear facility, part of an escalating shadow war between the two countries.

The escalation in enrichment could see further retaliation as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed never to allow Tehran to obtain a nuclear weapon. His country has twice pre-emptively bombed Mideast nations to stop their atomic programmes.

Speaking to his Cabinet, an impassioned President Hassan Rouhani said damaged first-generation IR-1 centrifuges at Natanz would be replaced by advanced IR-6 centrifuges that enrich uranium much faster. "You wanted to make our hands empty during the talks but our hands are full," Rouhani said.

He added, "About 60 per cent enrichment is an answer to your evilness. We cut off both of your hands, one with IR-6 centrifuges and another one with 60 per cent." Iran announced on Tuesday it would enrich uranium to its highest level ever in response to the weekend attack at Natanz. That also includes adding another 1,000 "more-advanced" centrifuges there as well.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever