Iran has officially dropped some of its commitments to the 2015 nuclear deal in line with President Hassan Rouhani's announcement last week.
The country stopped some commitments, including limits on its uranium enrichment programme, after an order from its National Security Council, the country's atomic energy agency told the Isna news agency.
An official from the agency said Iran now had no limits on its production of enriched uranium and heavy water.
Under the nuclear deal, Iran set limits of 300 kilograms on the amount of uranium it can produce, and 130 tonnes of heavy water.
The deal limits the enrichment of uranium to 3.67 per cent, far below the 90 per cent required for weapons-grade material.
Before the deal, Iran enriched uranium to 20 per cent, a level the country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said it could easily reach.
"Achieving 20 per cent enrichment is the most difficult part," Mr Khamenei told the Iran newspaper's Wednesday edition. "The next steps are easier than this step."
Iranian officials have said they could reach 20 per cent enrichment within four days.
Although the country says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, scientists say the time required to reach the 90 per cent threshold is halved once 20 per cent enrichment is reached.
Last week, the country notified the other signatories of the deal – China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK and the EU – of its decision to pull out of some commitments, after the US withdrew and reimposed sanctions.
The US imposed further sanctions on Iran after its announcement, this time on their metals industry.
The US moved USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier, plus B-52 bombers to the Gulf last week. Iran called them a target, not a threat.
Mr Khamenei also said talks with the US would be "poison" but that the battle of words would not spill into war.
"Neither we nor them is seeking war," he said. "They know that it is not to their benefit."
On Wednesday Iran's Minister of Defence, Amir Hatami, said the country would "defeat the American-Zionist front", the Irna news agency reported.
Iran gave European countries 60 days to salvage the nuclear deal, warning that it would start enriching uranium at a higher level.
Russia and China urged Iran to maintain its commitments as a part of the deal, and European countries have urged compliance, saying they would not accept ultimatums.
The nuclear deal, or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, was signed in 2015, lifting international sanctions in exchange for Iran curtailing its nuclear programme.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
The National photo project
Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).
Draw
Quarter-finals
Real Madrid (ESP) or Manchester City (ENG) v Juventus (ITA) or Lyon (FRA)
RB Leipzig (GER) v Atletico Madrid (ESP)
Barcelona (ESP) or Napoli (ITA) v Bayern Munich (GER) or Chelsea (ENG)
Atalanta (ITA) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Ties to be played August 12-15 in Lisbon
Ready Player One
Dir: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Mark Rylance
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The biog
Family: He is the youngest of five brothers, of whom two are dentists.
Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.
Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic
