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Last week, Iran vowed to breach the cap on its enriched uranium stockpile that was agreed to under the 2015 nuclear deal by Thursday. A spokesperson for the United Nation's nuclear agency, which monitors Iran's program, declined to comment to ABC News on whether Iran had done so. But an anonymous diplomat at the agency told Reuters that Iran hadn't reached the limit yet and was \"more likely\" to do so \"at the weekend if they do it.\"

The U.S. has been criticized by European partners for exiting the nuclear deal with some blaming the U.S. sanctions for why Iran is lashing out. But Esper defended the U.S., saying the country was \"by no means the instigator of recent tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.\"

\"Iran's hostile actions are an international problem that affects many nations,\" he said, adding later, \"We've had at least six ships attacked by Iran or its proxies. We've had mortar attacks into Saudi Arabia. We've had a cruise missile attack on Saudi Arabia. We of course had the shoot down of our unarmed aircraft in international airspace and the list goes on.\"

President Donald Trump has said he intends to nominate Esper to the role of defense secretary permanently. Esper previously served as Army Secretary and as a chief lobbyist for Raytheon.

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