Blinken: Iran's 'breakout time' for nuclear weapons could shrink

• Published date: 08 June 2021
• Date: 08 June 2021
• Author: Elad Benari

"It remains unclear whether Iran is willing and prepared to do what it needs to do come back into compliance," Blinken told lawmakers, according to Reuters.

"Meanwhile, its program is galloping forward. ... The longer this goes on, the more the breakout time gets down ... it's now down, by public reports, to a few months at best. And if this continues, it will get down to a matter of weeks," he added.

The comments come as the US and Iran continue indirect talks in Vienna in April to see if both sides might agree to resume compliance with the 2015 accord.

Iran has gradually scaled back its compliance with the 2015 deal in response to former US President Donald Trump's withdrawal from the agreement in 2018, but current President Joe Biden has expressed a desire to return to the agreement – provided Iran resumes compliance with it.

The fifth round of talks ended on June 2 and...