Three major European powers denounce Iran for “serious violation” of nuclear deal

Germany, France and the United Kingdom denounced on Thursday that Iran’s “serious violation” of atomic agreements by acquiring capabilities which “constitute crucial steps towards the development of a nuclear weapon”.

The production of uranium metal enriched to 20% and the increase in the production capacity of enriched uranium up to 60%, revealed by a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), constitute “A serious violation of Iran’s obligations under the Vienna nuclear agreement”, warn the three governments.

In addition to these new capacities “They are crucial steps towards the development of a nuclear weapon and Iran has no credible civilian need” to develop these technologies, they add.

“Our concern is even greater, given that Iran severely restricted access to IAEA”.

The Islamic Republic, which has always denied its intention to develop nuclear weapons, it has gradually freed itself from commitments to limit its nuclear program, in exchange for easing sanctions from the West and the UN.

The withdrawal of the United States in 2018, under the aegis of Donald Trump, hindered the agreement, his successor Joe Biden therefore wants to reinstate him. Indirect talks with European countries have been taking place since April in the city of Vienna. “Iran must immediately cease all activities which violate” the 2015 agreement, demanded France, Germany and the United Kingdom.

The OIEA report

Iran ramped up uranium enrichment to near weapons purity, according to the report, which has raised tensions with the West, when the two sides try to resume talks to reactivate the Tehran nuclear deal. Metallic uranium can be used in the production of a nuclear bomb.

In a report published by the international atomic energy agency in Vienna to member countries, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said his inspectors confirmed on Saturday that Iran had produced 200 grams of metallic uranium enriched up to 20%.

Grossi had already reported in February that its inspectors had confirmed that a small amount of uranium metal, 3.6 grams, had been produced at Iran’s Isfahan plant.

The production of metallic uranium is banned by the 2015 nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, which promises economic incentives to Iran in exchange for limits on its nuclear program. and it is intended to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear bomb.

In May, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that Iran used a waterfall, or a group of advanced centrifuges, to enrich up to 60% at its pilot surface enrichment plant in Natanz.

The IAEA informed member states on Tuesday that Iran has now also used a second waterfall for this purpose.

The move is the latest in a long line for Iran to break restrictions imposed by the 2015 nuclear deal, which limited the purity to which Tehran can refine uranium to 3.67%.

Uranium metal can be used to make the core of a nuclear bombBut Iran claims its goals are peaceful and that it is developing kerosene.

(With information from AFP and Reuters)

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