In a joint statement, Western allies called on Iran to reverse course and said they remained “committed to a diplomatic solution” on Tehran's nuclear program.
Iranian leaders visit a low-enriched uranium facility on a previous occasion. Photo: EPA
“Iran’s production of highly enriched uranium has no credible civilian justification,” the statement said. “These decisions… represent dangerous behavior in a context of regional tensions.”
Since Israel began its offensive against Hamas militants ruling Gaza, Iran-backed forces have stepped up attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and on US troops in Iraq and Syria, raising tensions in the region.
The United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said in a report on Tuesday that Iran has accelerated its production of highly enriched uranium with a purity of up to 60%.
Iran on Wednesday dismissed the IAEA report as “nothing new” and said it was carrying out its program “according to the rules.”
According to the IAEA's theoretical definition, Iran has enough uranium with 60% purity, and if enriched to 90%, it could be enough to make three nuclear bombs. Iran denies developing nuclear weapons.
The UK, France and Germany remain parties to the 2015 deal designed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Former US President Donald Trump abandoned the deal in 2018, leading Iran to partially dismantle its previous strictures.
Bui Huy (according to Reuters)
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