Berlin: Germany, the United Kingdom, and France, collectively known as the E3, voiced strong concerns on Monday about Iran’s accelerated uranium enrichment activities. In a joint statement, the nations condemned Iran’s decision to significantly increase uranium enrichment levels and expand its enrichment capacity, urging Tehran to reverse these actions.
The statement comes after Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), revealed that Iran has been enriching uranium to levels approaching 60% purity, nearing the 90% threshold required for nuclear weapons. Grossi’s comments, made in an interview with Reuters, underscore the growing international alarm over Iran’s nuclear program.
Enrichment Activities at Fordow Facility
The E3 statement specifically criticized Iran’s actions at the underground Fordow facility, where production of uranium enriched to 60% has significantly increased. The countries also expressed concerns about Iran’s use of additional centrifuges and preparations for new enrichment infrastructure.
“These steps have further hollowed out the 2015 nuclear deal and increased Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which has no credible civilian justification,” the E3 said.
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Call for Immediate Action
In their joint appeal, the E3 urged Iran to immediately halt its nuclear escalation and reverse the recent advancements. The three nations reiterated the importance of diplomatic efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions and restore compliance with the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which has been steadily undermined since the U.S. withdrawal in 2018.
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Iran’s Position
While Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and denies seeking nuclear weapons, its recent activities have drawn widespread international scrutiny and heightened tensions with the West.
The IAEA continues to monitor Iran’s nuclear facilities closely, emphasizing the need for transparency and adherence to international agreements.
