Iran nuclear move carries 'significant' risks: Europeans
Germany, France and
Britain on Wednesday said they were "deeply concerned" about Iran's
move to step up its uranium enrichment, warning of "very significant"
risks.
Tehran on Tuesday
said it was now refining uranium to 20 percent purity, the biggest break yet
from its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal struck with world powers.
"This action, which has no credible civil justification and carries very
significant proliferation-related risks, is in clear violation of Iran's
commitments" under the pact, the European trio said in a statement.
"We strongly urge Iran to stop enriching uranium to up to 20 percent
without delay," they added.
Iran's increased
uranium enrichment has triggered international concern because it is seen as a
significant step towards the 90 percent level required for a nuclear weapon.
The landmark 2015
deal agreed between Iran and the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France
and Germany has been fraying since President Donald Trump withdrew from it in
2018 and reimposed harsh sanctions.
The Iranian
government has signalled a readiness to engage with US President-elect Joe
Biden, who has expressed willingness to return to diplomacy with Tehran and who
takes office on January 20.
The three European
signatories to the deal, known as E3, cautioned in their statement that
Tehran's latest move "risks compromising the important opportunity for a
return to diplomacy with the incoming US administration".
