Iranian Lawmaker Calls for 90% Uranium Enrichment to Prepare for Potential Policy Shift

TEHRAN, Oct 31 (OPA) — Rezaei, a member of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, stated on Friday that the country must accelerate its nuclear enrichment program to reach 90% purity. The comments, broadcast via state media, suggest a strategic shift intended to shorten the timeline for potential nuclear weapon development.

Under current Iranian policy, the Supreme Leader’s fatwa prohibits the development of nuclear weapons. Rezaei argued that reaching the 90% enrichment threshold—the grade typically required for weapons-grade material—would provide the technical infrastructure needed to pivot quickly if that religious decree were to be revised or replaced.

The proposal follows a series of increasingly hawkish statements from Iranian officials regarding the nation’s nuclear posture. While Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program is strictly for civilian energy purposes, the push for higher enrichment levels remains a primary point of contention in ongoing international diplomatic efforts.

International observers and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have frequently monitored Iran’s enrichment activities, which have already surpassed the limits set by the 2015 nuclear agreement. Any move toward 90% enrichment would represent a significant escalation in the regional security landscape, drawing immediate scrutiny from global powers and the administration of President Donald Trump.