France, Germany, and Great Britain condemned Iran’s “latest measures” on June 15th, after the United Nations (UN) Atomic Energy Organization said the country was expanding its nuclear capabilities.
Three allies said Iran’s moves undermine the landmark 2015 nuclear deal after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Thursday the country was strengthening enrichment facilities at two sites.
“These measures will once again increase Iran’s stockpiles of enriched uranium and enrichment capacity, the levels of which have already exceeded the limits set by the 2015 agreement,” the foreign ministries of France, Germany and Great Britain said in a joint statement.
The condemnation came more than a week after the countries tabled a resolution at a meeting of the IAEA’s board of governors criticizing Tehran’s lack of cooperation with nuclear watchdogs, the first such move since November 2022.
Iran condemned the resolution as “hasty and unwise”.
Tehran denies it wanted to develop nuclear weapons, saying Iran’s atomic program is for peaceful and civilian purposes.
Germany, France, and Britain said it was unacceptable for Iran to present its measures as a reaction to the resolution.
They reiterated their commitment to a diplomatic solution that would prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.
According to the IAEA, Iran is the only non-nuclear-weapon state that is enriching uranium to a high level of 60 percent – just short of weapons grade – while continuing to accumulate large stockpiles of uranium.
The IAEA has said that Tehran has significantly boosted its nuclear program and now has enough material to build several atomic bombs.
The Islamic Republic has gradually deviated from its obligations under the 2015 agreement it signed with world powers.
The deal provided relief from Western sanctions in exchange for curbs on Iran’s nuclear program.
It fell apart after the unilateral withdrawal of the United States (U.S.) under then-President Donald Trump in 2018.
Efforts to revive the agreement have so far failed.
