Grading information sits on the end of a finished aluminium billet awaiting distribution at the Iran Aluminium Co. plant in Arak,Iran.

Grading information sits on the end of a finished aluminium billet awaiting distribution at the Iran Aluminium Co. plant in Arak,Iran.Credit:Ali Mohammadi

There is no final decision on the Patriot missiles,and the move could hinge on whether the US believes Iran is taking action to reduce the threat of escalation. The administration has not detailed the threats,but officials say one element involved Iran's placement of missiles on small boats off its shores,triggering worries that Tehran may be preparing to attack US forces or interests.

Earlier on Wednesday,Iran threatened to enrich its uranium stockpile in 60 days if world powers fail to negotiate new terms of the 2015 nuclear deal initially negotiated under former president Barack Obama. The enrichment threat follows the Trump administration's"maximum pressure"campaign of diplomatic and economic measures that have exacted a punishing toll on the Islamic Republic.

In the view of the president and senior officials of his administration,the sanctions have been a success.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani visits the Bushehr nuclear power plant in 2015.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani visits the Bushehr nuclear power plant in 2015.Credit:AP

"Because of our action,the Iranian regime is struggling to fund its campaign of violent terror,as its economy heads into an unprecedented depression,government revenue dries up,and inflation spirals out of control,"Trump said on Wednesday as he announced the round of sanctions on the country's metals industry.

Trump pulled out of the nuclear deal a year ago,but European and other nations stayed in. Trump has called for new negotiations over a deal,but it's unclear whether Iran will return to the bargaining table and agree to new terms.

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Iran's move to threaten new enrichment comes at a sensitive moment in the region. Over the weekend,the US rushed an aircraft carrier group and other military assets to the Middle East to confront an unspecified Iranian threat.

Despite Iran's announced deadline to pull out of the remainder of the nuclear deal,there have been signs that Tehran is willing to talk. Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said during a visit to New York last month that he thinks Trump wants to deal but is trying an antagonistic approach at the direction of senior aides and Middle Eastern allies.

People walk at the old main bazaar in Tehran,Iran.

People walk at the old main bazaar in Tehran,Iran.Credit:AP

"Try the language of respect,"he urged him,pretending to address the president directly."It won't kill you,believe me."

Trump himself says he's ready to talk."We call on the regime to abandon its nuclear ambitions,change its destructive behaviour,respect the rights of its people and return in good faith to the negotiating table,"he said in announcing the new sanctions.

Mark Dubowitz,chief executive of the Foundation for Defence of Democracies,and a critic of the deal,said:"Zarif today is doing what Zarif does very well,which is setting the table for negotiations because I think the Iranians are now realising that they may not be able to wait Trump out."

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"The economy is in such bad shape and getting worse that they may experience a massive economic crisis before January 2021,"when either Trump starts a second term or a new American president takes office."I think Zarif can't wait to get back to the table,"Dubowitz said.

But Democrats used Iran's announcement as an opportunity to criticise Trump for withdrawing from the deal. Senator Chris Murphy called it a sign of"blind,meandering,escalatory"foreign policy.

"Iran's moves to restart their nuclear program are a direct consequence of the Trump administration withdrawing from the Iran deal,"said Murphy,a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Brian Hook,US envoy to Iran,told reporters at the State Department that the US laid out 12 demands last year for a new Iran deal and an end to the Trump administration's maximum pressure campaign.

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They include an end to all uranium enrichment,ceasing all support for militant groups in the Middle East and the release of all US citizens detained in Iran on what the administration considers illegitimate grounds.

The United States,Germany,Britain,France,Russia,China and the European Union signed the 2015 deal with Iran,which lifted international sanctions in exchange for Tehran limiting its nuclear program,including restricting uranium enrichment for 10 years.

Travelling in London,Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a restrained response to Iran's announcement. He said America"will wait and observe"what Iran does next."They have made a number of statements about actions they have threatened to do in order to get the world to jump,"Pompeo said.

Tim Morrison,senior director for weapons of mass destruction under national security adviser John Bolton at the White House,was more critical of Iran's threat to violate the nuclear deal.

"Let's be clear,"he said."This is nothing less than nuclear blackmail."

AP,Reuters

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