ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The United Kingdom, France and Germany say they note Iran’s pledges to increase nuclear activity “with grave concern” amid ongoing talks to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal.
The three nations, also known as the E3, released a joint statement on Wednesday calling on Iran “not to further complicate the diplomatic process” as talks continue in Vienna over the landmark nuclear accord, or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
“This is a serious development since the production of highly enriched uranium constitutes an important step in the production of a nuclear weapon. Iran has no credible civilian need for enrichment at this level,” read the statement shared by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Iran announced on Tuesday that it would begin enriching uranium at 60 percent, a response to what was believed to be an Israeli attack on the Natanz nuclear plant on Sunday. It has also pledged to replace centrifuges damaged in the attack with more advanced models, which, according to the E3, “ will significantly increase Iran’s enrichment capacity.”
Under the JCPOA, Iran's uranium enrichment is capped at 3.67 percent.
“Iran’s announcements are particularly regrettable given they come at a time when all JCPOA participants and the United States have started substantive discussions, with the objective of finding a rapid diplomatic solution to revitalize and restore the JCPOA. Iran’s dangerous recent communication is contrary to the constructive spirit and good faith of these discussions,” the E3 added.
The 2015 nuclear deal broke down when then US President Donald Trump pulled out of the agreement in May 2018. Trump's administration imposed harsh economic sanctions on Iran a few months later, leading the Islamic Republic to abandon several of its commitments under the accord.
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