With thousands of advanced centrifuges on standby, Tehran says it is now spinning more, which could increase its stockpile of near-bomb-grade atomic fuel.

Iran said it will increase the number of centrifuges in its nuclear program in response to a censure by the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, ratcheting up tensions with the West just days after it signaled a willingness to ease them.

A rebuke of Iran led by the U.S. and its close allies at the global nuclear watchdog agency has drawn a vow by the Islamic republic to further ramp up uranium enrichment.