"The 26 December 2023 report by the IAEA highlights that Iran has increased its rate of production of uranium enriched up to 60% at Natanz and Fordow to levels observed between January and June 2023. These findings represent a backwards step by Iran and will result in Iran tripling its monthly production rate of uranium enriched up to 60%," the statement by the four Western countries said as appeared on the French foreign ministry's website.
They further condemn Iran's action, claiming that it adds to the unabated escalation of Iran’s nuclear programme.
They also express concern over alleged proliferation and Iran's delay in declaring this change.
The Western states further "urge Iran to immediately reverse these steps and de-escalate its nuclear programme."
"Iran must fully cooperate with the IAEA to enable it to provide assurances that its nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful, and to re-designate the inspectors suspended in September 2023," the four states added in their statement.
They went on to claim they have allegedly remained committed to a diplomatic solution.
The United States Joe Biden administration has claimed that it seeks a diplomatic solution to the revival of the Iran nuclear deal known as the JCPOA, from which the previous US president Trump pulled out in May 2018.
Iran and the P4+1 (remaining parties to the nuclear deal or the JCPOA) have held several rounds of talks to revive the JCPOA, mainly in the Austrian capital of Vienna. Iran has insisted that it will fully abide by the deal once the illegal sanctions are removed.
The talks were stalled in September 2022 due to the US refusal to lift the sanctions on Tehran amid the continued indifference of the other Western powers towards Iran's demands.
MNA
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