IRAN announced today it intends to smash the strict uranium stockpile limits set under the nuclear deal it struck with the world's leading powers.

The hardline country's shock statement is another blow to a pact already crumbling since the US’s high-profile withdrawal.

4 President Rouhani said his country would stop observing restrictions on its stocks of enriched uranium Credit: EPA

4 Donald's Trump's administration has already imposed tough economic sanctions on Tehran. Credit: AFP or licensors

"Today the countdown to pass the 300 kilograms reserve of enriched uranium has started and in 10 days time we will pass this limit," said Iran's atomic energy organisation spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi.

"This is based on the Articles 26 and 36 of the (nuclear deal), and will be reversed once other parties live up to their commitments."

Kamalvandi acknowledged the country has already QUADRUPLED its production of low-enriched uranium.

The news is bound to ramp up tensions between Iran and the West already at breaking point following the shock bomb attack on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman.

Many international observers believe the attack was an act of "revenge" by Iran after the White House imposed crippling economic sanctions after Donald Trump pulled out of the nuclear deal.

Just last month, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced his country would stop observing restrictions on its stocks of enriched uranium and heavy water agreed under the 2015 deal.

What is the Iran nuclear deal and what happens if it collapses? The deal is an arrangement between the Islamic Republic and a group of world powers for Iran to abandon its nuclear programme. Officially it is known as the The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action(JCPOA). It saw the Middle Eastern nation agree to reduce its stockpile of medium-enriched uranium by 98 per cent. Enriched uranium is essential for developing nuclear weapons and power stations. As part of the agreement Iran also agreed to only enrich their uranium up to 3.67 per cent over the next 15 years. In addition they were barred from building any more heavy-water faculties - a type of nuclear reactor which uses heavy water (deuterium oxide) as a coolant to maintain temperatures in the reactor. Also under the agreement the International Atomic Energy Agency was granted regular access to all Iranian nuclear facilities to ensure Iran maintains the deal. The deal said that if Iran abides by it the nation would receive relief from the US, European Union, and the United Nations Security Council on all nuclear-related economic sanctions. The agreement was reached on July 14 2015 and the world powers signed it in Vienna. Iran, China, France, Russia, UK, USA, Germany and the EU all signed up to the deal. If the deal collapses it initially probably means reimposing oil-related sanctions on Iran that were lifted under the terms of the agreement.

He said the move was in retaliation for the unilateral US withdrawal from the accord, which led to Trump's administration imposing the tough sanctions on Tehran. Under the agreement, Iran pledged to reduce its nuclear capacities and allow inspectors inside the country to monitor its activities in return for relief from international sanctions. The deal set a limit on the number of uranium-enriching centrifuges, and restricted its right to enrich uranium to no higher than 3.67 per cent -well below weapons-grade levels of around 90 per cent. It also called on Iran to export enriched uranium and heavy water to ensure that the country's reserves would stay within the production ceiling set by the agreement. On Sunday Mike Pompeo revealed America is now "considering a full range of options" including using its mighty military amid the rising tensions.

The US Secretary of State spoke out after he accused the hardline state of launching the tanker attacks.

4 An aerial picture showing the huge blaze raging on the oil tanker after the attack Credit: AP:Associated Press

4

"The United States is considering a full range of options. We have briefed the President a couple of times, we'll continue to keep him updated," he said.

"We are confident that we can take a set of actions that can restore deterrence which is our mission set," Pompeo said in an interview on CBS's Face The Nation.

When questioned if a military response was one of the options, Pompeo responded: "Of course."

times, we'll continue to keep him updated," he said.

"We are confident that we can take a set of actions that can restore deterrence which is our mission set," Pompeo said in an interview on CBS's 'Face the Nation'.

He then added: "The President will consider everything we need to do to make sure, right? But what's the President said? We don't want Iran to get a nuclear weapon.

US and Iran - a troubled history Before the 1979 Iranian revolution, Iran was one of America's biggest allies in the Middle East and was led by the US-backed Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi.

However, since the seismic revolt, Iran has been led by murderous Islamic fundamentalists and tensions with Washington have remained ever since.

On November 4, 1979, the Iranian regime took 52 US diplomats hostage in response to President Carter’s administration allowing Iran’s deposed former leader into America.

The hostage crisis lasted for 444 days and also included a failed rescue mission which cost the lives of eight US soldiers.

In April 1980, the US ended diplomatic relations with Iran – a break which lasted for more than 30 years.

In April 1983, Washington blamed the Iranian-funded terror group Hezbollah for carrying out a bombing attack on the American embassy in Beirut, Lebanon.

The assault, carried out amid a brutal civil war in Lebanon, killed 17 Americans.

In November of that year, two truck bombs in Beruit killed 241 US peace keepers. The US again blamed Hezbollah for the incident.

The Clinton White House, in 1995, placed a total embargo on Iran meaning US companies could not trade with the country.

And in 2002, George W Bush included the Islamic Republic in his famous “Axis of evil” speech along with North Korea and Iraq.

"President Trump has said very clearly, he doesn't want to go to war."

And when asked if the administration had the legal authorisation to strike Iran without approval from Congress, Pompeo said: "We always have the authorisation to defend American interests."

Pompeo's comments came after the two tankers were attacked near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

Both the Front Altair and the Panama-flagged Kokuka Courageous - which was "bombed"- burst into flames and were forced to evacuate the troubled region.

MOST READ IN NEWS Latest GUNNED DOWN Cop shot dead inside London police station after gun missed in search HAPPY MEAL McDonald’s worker pays customer’s bill after he calls mum to ask for her order EUGE NEWS Princess Eugenie 'so excited' to be expecting first baby as Andrew to be grandad HERE WE SNOW! Leeds hit by SNOW as temps plummet to -5 as Brits brace for 65mph gusts today Exclusive PIERS PRESSURE Couple wiped out village's internet for 18 MONTHS to watch Piers on £30 TV STORE TOT SNATCH Family's horror as 'kidnap gang try to rip girl, 1, from pram' in TK Maxx

Hours later it was revealed the US Navy is sending the guided missile destroyer USS Mason to the scene of the attacks and t he Royal Navy is also set to send Marines to the region amid rising tensions.

The general-secretary of the Gulf Cooperation Council described the sabotage as a "serious escalation" in an overnight statement.

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours