“We condemn this measure, which further exacerbates the continuing escalation of the Iranian nuclear program,” said the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany, in a joint statement on Thursday.
The four countries denounced the acceleration of the production of highly enriched uranium by the Islamic Republic of Iran, as revealed in a report published by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Tuesday.
According to the UN agency, Iran has “increased its production of highly enriched uranium in recent weeks, despite slowing down the pace since the middle of 2023.”
“These decisions demonstrate Iran’s lack of willingness to engage in good faith de-escalation and reflect irresponsible behavior in a regional context of tension,” they added, urging Tehran to “fully cooperate with the IAEA.”
Iran has denied intentions to develop nuclear weapons, and claims that they have not changed their uranium enrichment levels.
The escalation of tensions between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas, alongside the breakdown of negotiations over the Iranian nuclear deal, have further strained relations between Iran and the United States. The Islamic Republic has also excluded IAEA inspectors and disconnected necessary cameras for the monitoring of its nuclear program.
