The Islamic Republic is set to resume nuclear talks with the international community in the coming days after a several-month hiatus; McKenzie: Central Command always has a variety of plans that we could execute.

The international community continues to watch from a distance as nuclear talks with the Islamic Republic of Iran are set to resume in the days ahead after a several-month break. Initial talks in Vienna earlier this year ultimately failed, which was followed by the pause in discussion amid the series of elections taking place in Iran.

Amid Tehran’s decision to return to nuclear talks, the international community remains well aware of how much the regime has increased its nuclear stockpile over the last several months, surpassing several limits set in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or Iran nuclear deal.

Commander of US Central Command, General Kenneth McKenzie, stated in an interview, “The diplomats are in the lead on this, but Central Command always has a variety of plans that we could execute, if directed.” Concerning the reality that Tehran is extremely close to enriching uranium at weapon-grade levels, he said, “They’re very close this time. I think they like the idea of being able to break out.”

As the talks approach, Israeli officials have warned of the danger of returning to another nuclear deal.

Iran began publicly violating several conditions contained within the JCPOA following the official US withdrawal from the deal in 2018 via the Trump administration. The Trump White House elected to remove the US from the deal after citing a host of longstanding violations by Tehran.