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2.3 France, Germany, UK voice ‘grave concern’ over Iran stepping up uranium enrichment
France, Germany and the UK expressed grave concern on August 19 about a report from the UN atomic energy watchdog that concluded Iran has accelerated its enrichment of uranium to near weapons-grade. This amounted to a serious violation of Tehran's nuclear deal commitments, they said.
Reuters said it gained access to the report from the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA), which was compiled at a time when major powers and Iran are expected to resume their Vienna talks on how to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, or JCPOA, with full Iranian and US participation. The accord commits Tehran to keeping its nuclear development programme entirely civilian in return for a shield against major sanctions.
In a joint statement, Paris, Berlin and London said they were worried about the IAEA reporting confirming that Iran has produced uranium metal enriched up to 20% fissile purity for the first time and lifted production capacity of uranium enriched to 60%. Both moves could be seen as key steps in the development of a nuclear bomb, even though Iran maintains it has never had a plan to develop such a weapon. Uranium metal can be used to make the core of a nuclear bomb. Iran says its aims are peaceful and that it is developing reactor fuel. Israel disputes Iran's contention that it would never cross the threshold to developing nuclear armaments.
"Iran must halt activities in violation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) without delay," said the joint statement from the three powers' foreign ministries.
"We urge Iran to return to the negotiations in Vienna as soon as possible with a view to bringing them to a swift, successful conclusion. We have repeatedly stressed that time is on no-one's side," they added.
The nuclear deal capped the purity to which Tehran can refine uranium. Enrichment to 90% is considered weapons-grade, although other technical steps are needed to create a deliverable nuclear bomb.
The US and its European allies have said Iran's further moves in breach of the nuclear deal threaten the currently stalled talks on reviving the deal.
The talks came to a halt prior to the June presidential election in Iran, which saw hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi voted in to succeed moderate politician Hassan Rouhani as president. Raisi has said his administration is committed to proceeding with the attempt at re-establishing the JCPOA.
8 IRAN Country Report September 2021 www.intellinews.com