EU warns Iran over nuclear expansion, urges return to nuclear commitments
The European Union warned Wednesday that Iran’s expanding nuclear program and opacity threaten regional security, urging Tehran to return to full compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal and restore cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The statement was delivered during the IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna.
The EU said it is “deeply concerned by the continued alarming expansion of Iran’s nuclear program,” and pointed to Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium as particularly troubling.
According to the statement, “Iran has accumulated more than 9 Significant Quantities of material enriched at 60%, which the Agency defines as the approximate amount of nuclear material for which the possibility of manufacturing a nuclear explosive device cannot be excluded.”
The EU added that “Iran is currently producing over one Significant Quantity of highly enriched uranium every month.”
It further warned that Iran’s removal of surveillance equipment has left inspectors unable to verify key elements of the program.
“The Agency has lost continuity of knowledge… which it will not be possible to restore.”
The EU called on Iran to reverse its alarming nuclear trajectory, and urged it to engage effectively with the IAEA without any further delay.
