UK, France and Germany accuse Iran of undermining chance for nuclear diplomacy

E3 condemn Iran’s move to produce uranium metal

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The country says it will not comply with the JCPoA until economic sanctions are lifted. AFP

Britain, France and Germany condemned Iran’s latest breach of the 2015 nuclear deal and said the move to produce uranium metal undermined the opportunity for renewed diplomacy.

The countries, known as the E3, said there was no civil justification for the move, which takes Iran another step closer to being able to produce a nuclear weapon.

Iran has repeatedly violated the 2015 accord known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) since 2019, after former US president Donald Trump withdrew from the deal with world powers and renewed sanctions on Tehran.

"We, the governments of France, Germany and the United Kingdom, note with grave concern the recent confirmation by the International Atomic Energy Agency that Iran is producing uranium metal in violation of the JCPoA. Under the JCPoA, Iran committed not to engage in producing or acquiring uranium metal or to conduct research and development on uranium metallurgy for 15 years," the E3 said.

“Recalling our statement of January 16, we reiterate that Iran has no credible civilian justification for these activities, which are a key step in the development of a nuclear weapon.

“We strongly urge Iran to halt these activities without delay and not to take any new non-compliant steps on its nuclear programme. In escalating its non-compliance, Iran is undermining the opportunity for renewed diplomacy to fully realise the objectives of the JCPoA.”

With the recent inauguration of Mr Trump’s successor Joe Biden, there had been hope of a return to the negotiating table.

But Mr Biden said earlier this week that he would not withdraw sanctions on Iran until it returned to the terms of the 2015 deal, and Iran says it will not comply with the JCPoA until economic measures are lifted.