Tehran’s Nuclear Ultimatum: With Ceasefire On ‘Life Support’, Iran Issues Weapons-Grade Uranium Threat

Last Updated:May 12, 2026, 18:35 IST

Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said that in the event of another attack, Tehran could opt for 90% enrichment

A senior Iranian official warned on Tuesday that Tehran could escalate its nuclear activities to 90 per cent uranium enrichment—widely considered weapons-grade—should the country face a renewed military offensive. The statement, issued by Ebrahim Rezaei, the spokesperson for the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, marks a sharp escalation in rhetoric as a fragile, month-old ceasefire between Iran, Israel, and the United States teeters on the brink of collapse.

The ’90 Per Cent’ Ultimatum

Writing on the social media platform X, Rezaei stated that “one of Iran’s options in the event of another attack could be 90 per cent enrichment", adding that the move would be formally reviewed in parliament. While Iran has already reached 60 per cent purity—a level with no significant civilian application—the leap to 90 per cent would mean Tehran possesses the material necessary for a nuclear warhead.

The warning follows a period of intense regional instability. On February 28, the US and Israel launched major strikes against Iranian nuclear and ballistic facilities, an operation that resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. His successor has since overseen a series of retaliatory strikes against US bases and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global fuel supplies.

A Ceasefire ‘On Life Support’

The rhetoric coincides with the stalling of Pakistan-mediated peace talks in Islamabad. Although a truce brokered by US President Donald Trump has been in effect since April 8, the President described the ceasefire on Tuesday as being on “massive life support". Trump recently dismissed a 14-point Iranian proposal for a permanent settlement as “totally unacceptable" and “piece of garbage", signalling a return to a “maximum pressure" stance.

The core of the dispute remains Iran’s refusal to surrender its current stockpile of enriched uranium. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that the removal of all enriched material from Iranian soil is a non-negotiable precondition for ending the conflict. In contrast, Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, reiterated on Monday that the country’s enrichment rights are “not up for negotiation".

The Hormuz Hurdle and Global Energy

The threat to “weaponise" the nuclear programme is deeply intertwined with the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. While the ceasefire was intended to facilitate the safe passage of commercial vessels, traffic remains severely restricted. US officials have warned that any move toward 90 per cent enrichment would likely trigger a full-scale resumption of the February offensive, which targeted energy infrastructure and bridges across the Islamic Republic.

European leaders, meeting in Brussels on Tuesday, expressed concern over the “uninteroperable" nature of global diplomatic efforts. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas suggested that a new European mission may be required to secure Lebanese and maritime borders if the UNIFIL mission ends later this year.

For the global market, the prospect of 90 per cent enrichment serves as a harbinger of a prolonged fuel crisis. Saudi Aramco warned on Tuesday that the world is nearing a severe shortage if regional security is not restored.

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