This is how European powers described the decision to increase Iran’s uranium enrichment
Iran’s declaration on enriching uranium to 60% is considered a dangerous development by France, Germany and the UK, a move that goes against the atmosphere of the talks in Vienna to salvage the Iranian nuclear agreement.
In this context, the spokesmen of the foreign ministries of the three signatory countries of the 2015 agreement said: This is a serious development, because the production of highly enriched uranium is an important step for a nuclear weapon, and violates the constructive atmosphere and good faith in the talks.
Starting next week, Iran plans to start producing 60% enriched uranium, said Tehran’s ambassador to the IAEA, Kazem Gharebabadi, who tweeted that preparations for the implementation of this resolution began Tuesday evening. We plan to accumulate production (two 60% uranium centrifuges) next week.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that Iran’s decision to enrich uranium to 60% after the explosion at the Natanz plant was Tehran’s response to Israel’s nuclear terrorism.
In the cabinet, Rouhani said he was responding to the malice of enemies. What you have done is called nuclear terrorism and what we are doing is legitimate,” he said, referring to Israel, which Tehran accuses of sabotaging its uranium enrichment plant in Natanz, central Iran… Of course, our (nuclear) activities will remain peaceful and only under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, whether “our enrichment is 60% or 20%.”
On Tuesday, the White House confirmed that US President Joe Biden is still willing to continue negotiations with Iran, despite its declared intention to enrich uranium to 60%, which would put it closer to being able to use for military purposes.
White House spokeswoman Jen Skye said: We are certainly concerned about this provocative announcement. “We are confident that the diplomatic track is the only way to make progress in this regard, and that holding talks, even indirect ones, is the best way to reach a solution”.
