France, Germany and Britain press Iran to agree on renewed nuclear deal
- The three European governments said in a joint statement on Saturday that Iran ‘has chosen not to seize this critical diplomatic opportunity’
- Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said the statement was ‘unconstructive’
France, Germany and Britain have urged Iran to agree to a proposed relaunch of the agreement limiting its nuclear programme, saying final texts of a deal have been readied but Iran “has chosen not to seize this critical diplomatic opportunity.”
The three European governments said in a joint statement on Saturday that Iran has instead raised “separate issues” and “continues to escalate its nuclear programme way beyond any plausible civilian justification.”
In their statement, the three European powers vented their frustration at Iran’s demand in nuclear talks that the UN nuclear watchdog close an investigation into uranium traces found at three sites.
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The statement comes amid efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which eased sanctions on Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear programme. The United States unilaterally pulled out of the accord in 2018 under former US President Donald Trump and reimposed sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to start backing away from the deal’s terms.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Saturday said the statement was “unconstructive”, adding “the three European countries are advised to play a more active role in providing solutions to end the few disagreements that remain”, state media reported.
The UN atomic watchdog said on Wednesday it believes Iran has further increased its stockpile of uranium that is highly enriched to one short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels.
Iran last week sent a written response in negotiations over a final draft of a road map for parties to return to the tattered nuclear deal, though the US cast doubt on Tehran’s offer. Neither side elaborated on the contents.
