Rouhani: Iran can enrich uranium to 90% purity if needed

The nuclear deal caps the fissile purity to which Tehran can refine uranium at 3.67%, well under the 20% achieved before the agreement and far below the 90% suitable for a nuclear weapon. Iran has long denied any intention of developing nuclear weapons.

Iran has been breaching the deal in several ways after the United States withdrew from the agreement in 2018, including by producing 20% and 60% enriched uranium.

Rouhani, who will hand over the presidency to hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi on Aug. 5, was quoted by state news agency IRNA as implicitly criticizing Iran's top decision makers for "not allowing" his government to revive the nuclear deal during its term in office.