BICOM

Iran will start enriching uranium above the limits set out in the JCPOA nuclear agreement, it announced yesterday.

In May, on the anniversary of the US withdrawal from the deal, Iran issued a 60-day deadline to the remaining signatories – China, France, Germany, Russia and the UK – to protect it from US sanctions, otherwise it would break its commitments in the deal.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran would start enriching uranium above the limit of 3.67 per cent to 5 per cent – enough to generate civil nuclear power. Araghchi added that Iran would keep reducing its commitment to the 2015 nuclear agreement every 60 days if its demands were not met.

Behrouz Kamalvandi, a spokesman for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation said: “We are fully prepared to enrich uranium at any level and with any amount. In a few hours, the technical process will come to an end and the enrichment beyond 3.67 per cent will begin.”

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted that that the steps were “reversible” if European countries delivered on their commitments.

The Foreign Office said: “While the UK remains fully committed to the deal, Iran must immediately stop and reverse all activities inconsistent with its obligations. We are co-ordinating with other JCPOA participants regarding the next steps under the terms of the deal, including a joint commission.”

French President Emmanuel Macron told Iranian President Hassan Rouhani over the weekend that he was “deeply concerned” over further weakening of the deal, warning there would be inevitable consequences. According to Sky News, Macron also said he would try to find a way by 15 July to resume dialogue between Iran and its JCPOA partners.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the Iranian move a “very, very dangerous step”. He added: “Iran has violated its solemn promise under the UN Security Council not to enrich uranium beyond a certain level. I call on my friends, the heads of France, Britain and Germany – you signed this deal and you said that as soon as they take this step, severe sanctions will be imposed – that was the Security Council resolution. Where are you? The enrichment of uranium is made for one reason and one reason only: it’s for the creation of atomic bombs.”