PARIS: Britain, France, and Germany on Saturday condemned the latest measures by Iran after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the country was expanding its nuclear capabilities.
The three allies said Iran’s moves were undermining a landmark 2015 deal on its nuclear program after the United Nations atomic watchdog on Thursday said the country was enrichment facilities at two sites.
“These measures will again increase Iran’s stock of enriched uranium and enrichment capacity, whose levels have already surpassed the limits set” by the 2015 deal, the French, German and British foreign ministries said in a joint statement.
The condemnation came after the countries presented a resolution at an IAEA board of governors meeting condemning Tehran’s lack of cooperation with the nuclear watchdog, the first such move since November 2022.
Iran condemns resolution
Iran strongly condemned the resolution calling it unwise and hasty. It rejected seeking to develop a nuclear weapon, saying its atomic program is only for peaceful and civilian purposes.
Germany, France and Britain said it was not acceptable that Iran presented its actions as a reaction to the resolution. They reaffirmed their commitment to a diplomatic solution stopping Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
According to the IAEA, Iran is the only non-nuclear state to enrich uranium to the high level of 60 percent which is just short of weapons grade. The IAEA in a report said that Tehran has significantly increased its nuclear program and now has enough material to build several atomic bombs.
Iran has slowly broken away from its commitments under the 2015 deal it signed with world powers. The development came after the unilateral withdrawal of the United States under then-president Donald Trump in 2018. Efforts to revive the deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) have so far failed.
