Iran’s president rejects bill that would boost enrichment

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday rejected a bill approved by parliament that would have suspended U.N. inspections and boosted uranium enrichment, saying it was "harmful" to diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring 2015 nuclear deal and easing U.S. sanctions.

tug-of-war over bill, which gained momentum after killing of a prominent Iranian nuclear scientist last month, reflects rivalry between Rouhani, a relative moderate, and hard-line lawmakers who dominate parliament and favor a more confrontational approach to West.

bill would have suspended U.N. inspections and required government to resume enriching uranium to 20% if European nations failed to provide relief from crippling U.S. sanctions on country's oil and banking sectors. That level falls short of threshold needed for nuclear weapons but is higher than that required for civilian purposes.

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Rouhani said his ministration, "does t agree with bill and considers it harmful to ongoing diplomatic work." He implied lawmakers were positioning mselves ahe of elections planned for June.

He said re h been speculation in media that he h t gone to parliament because of bill.

"t going to parliament is solely because of (coronavirus) safety guidelines," he said.