European concerns and calls for Iran to stop uranium production research
The European countries involved in the agreement on the Iranian nuclear program, namely France, Germany and Britain, expressed their concern over Tehran’s announcement this week that it is advancing its research on the production of uranium metal, calling on it not to proceed with the step that constitutes an additional reversal of its obligations under the Vienna Agreement.
France, Britain and Germany, which are part of the Iran nuclear deal, have expressed their concern over Iran’s announcement that it will advance its research into the production of uranium, and urged Tehran not to proceed with this step.
“We, the governments of Germany, France and the United Kingdom, express our deep concern over Iran’s announcement that it is preparing to produce uranium metal,” European countries said in a joint statement.
This topic raises an additional sensitivity because this metal could be used in the development of a nuclear weapon.
In Vienna in 2015, the Republic of Iran concluded an agreement with the six major powers (the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Russia and China) regarding its nuclear program, according to which the international powers sought to ensure the peace of the program and that Iran would not seek to develop a nuclear weapon by reducing the level of its activities. In exchange for lifting many of the economic sanctions imposed on it.
US President Donald Trump announced in 2018 his country would unilaterally withdraw from the agreement and re-impose harsh sanctions on Tehran, which responded nearly a year later by beginning a gradual retreat from most of its core obligations under the agreement.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said on Wednesday that it had been informed by Iran that it was advancing research into the production of uranium metal as fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor.
European countries considered in their statement that “Iran does not have any reliable civilian use of the uranium metal,” warning that “the production of uranium metal may have serious military consequences.”
“We strongly urge Iran to stop this activity and return to respect its obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action without any delay, if it is serious about preserving the agreement,” European countries added.
The 2015 Vienna Agreement stipulated that Iran would refrain for 15 years from producing or acquiring plutonium or uranium metals or their alloys, and from conducting research and development activities for plutonium or uranium (or their alloys).
