PARIS, European powers, France, Germany and the United Kingdom, have condemned Iran’s broadening of its nuclear activities counter to understandings with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
A joint statement issued on Saturday by the spokespeople of the foreign ministers of the three nations stated, “We, the governments of France, Germany and the United Kingdom, condemn Iran’s latest steps, as reported by the IAEA, to further expand its nuclear programme.
Iran has taken further steps in hollowing out the JCPoA, by operating dozens of additional advanced centrifuges at the Natanz enrichment site as well as announcing it will install thousands more centrifuges at both its Fordow and Natanz sites.” These steps will further increase Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile and enrichment capacity, which already significantly exceeds JCPoA limits. This decision is a further escalation of Iran’s nuclear programme, which carries significant proliferation risks. Iran’s decision to substantially increase its pro
duction capacity at the underground Fordow facility is especially concerning.
Presenting such steps as a reaction to the IAEA Board of Governors’ adoption of a resolution calling for Iran’s long overdue cooperation on safeguards is not acceptable. Iran is legally obliged under the Non-Proliferation Treaty to fully implement its safeguards agreement, which is separate to the JCPoA, the joint statement added.
“We remain committed to a diplomatic solution preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons” the trio’s statement concluded.
Source: Kuwait News Agency