RTMon, 08 Jul 2019 08:36 UTC
© IRNA/Mohammad Babaie/ReutersNuclear power plant in Bushehr, Iran
Iran has officially surpassed the 3.67% uranium enrichment limit set by the 2015 nuclear deal, Reuters has reported, citing a spokesman for the country's nuclear agency.
Behrouz Kamalvandi said that Iran's new level of uranium enrichment was at 4.5%, and that Tehran would consider increasing this figure to 20% as a future measure if Europe continues to neglect its commitments under the JCPOA. He urged the deal's European signatories to act quickly before Iran took further steps to pull out from the accord.
Tehran announced on Sunday that it would exceed the cap mandated by the accord, warning it would further scale down its commitments under the deal if its European partners failed to honor the agreement. Under deal, known as the JCPOA, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear activities and to allow international inspections of its nuclear facilities, in exchange for sanctions relief.
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has argued that Iran is fully within its rights to increase its uranium enrichment, noting that a dispute resolution mechanism contained in the JCPOA allows Tehran to "cease performing its commitments" if the Islamic Republic believes any of the other signatories have failed to uphold their own side of the deal.
Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri said in a separate statement said that
Washington had prevented Tehran from benefitting from its full compliance with the deal. He blamed the United States for creating an "unsafe atmosphere for Iranian economic and political relations," according to IRNA news agency.
Washington unilaterally withdrew from the accord last year and reimposed sanctions which placed restrictions on anyone who trades with Iran, scaring off investors. Tehran for its part criticized the EU for turning its back on investment projects aimed at boosting the Iranian economy.
Comment: More from
FRN: Pompeo's new anti-Iran sanctions
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo responded to the statement by Iranian authorities regarding the restart of uranium enrichment above 3.67%, as announced on July 7 by Abbas Arakchi, who is the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran and the main negotiator for the Joint Comprehensive Action Plan (JCPOA) on the nuclear program. According to Pompeo, Washington will introduce new sanctions against Iran, despite Washington having been the party to cancel the deal, and increase its isolation.
"The Iranian nuclear weapon regime will pose an even greater danger to the world," the US secretary of state wrote on Twitter, threatening to respond to Iran's "expansion of its nuclear program" with new sanctions and further "isolation." According to Pompeo, it is necessary to return the "total ban on uranium enrichment" by Iran.
Abbas Arakchi said recently that the beginning of uranium enrichment was the second stage of reduction of Iran's obligations under the FIDD, and now it will occur every 60 days, if its participants do not adhere to the agreements reached. Arakchi also noted that although "the doors for diplomacy are still open," new initiatives are needed to resolve this situation.
From
Tasmin News Agency: China blames US bullying for Iran's nuclear announcement
"The facts show that unilateral bullying has already become a worsening tumor," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang at a press briefing in Beijing, AFP reported. "The maximum pressure exerted by the US on Iran is the root cause of the Iranian nuclear crisis," he said.
President Hassan Rouhani had warned on Wednesday that the second step of reduction in Iran's commitments would take place on Sunday, saying, "On July 7, the level of (uranium) enrichment in Iran will not be 3.67 percent anymore, as we will abandon such a commitment and increase it (enrichment) to any amount that we need."
Iran maintains that the new measures are not designed to harm the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), but to save the accord by creating a balance in the commitments.
Last week, Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium exceeded 300 kg.
See also:
Pompeo warns Iran: New 'sanctions and further isolation' for uranium enrichment (levels set by the JCPOA)
Comment: More from FRN: Pompeo's new anti-Iran sanctions From Tasmin News Agency: China blames US bullying for Iran's nuclear announcement See also: Pompeo warns Iran: New 'sanctions and further isolation' for uranium enrichment (levels set by the JCPOA)