An Iranian government spokesman said on Monday that the country had started enriching uranium of up to 20% at its underground Fordo nuclear facility, writes DW.

It would put Tehran’s program a technical step away from weapons-grade levels,

“A few minutes ago, the process of producing 20% enriched uranium has started in Fordo enrichment complex”, - Government spokesman Ali Rabeie told Iranian state media.

The news comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the US in the waning days of the administration of President Donald Trump.

The outgoing president unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, and ordered the killing of Tehran’s top atomic expert last year. The deal’s main aim was to extend the time Iran would need to produce enough fissile material for a nuclear bomb, if it chose to, to at least a year from roughly two to three months. It also lifted international sanctions against Tehran.