EU urges Iran to reverse nuclear advances

The European Union warned that Iran’s continued nuclear expansion poses a growing risk of proliferation, calling on Tehran to return to its commitments under 2015 deal and adhere to UN Security Council Resolution 2231.

The statement was delivered in Vienna during the quarterly meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors on Tuesday.

“The EU remains deeply concerned by the continued alarming expansion of Iran’s nuclear program. Iran has gravely departed from its the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) commitments and has gained irreversible knowledge.

"The EU notes with particular concern Iran’s significantly increased production and accumulation of highly enriched uranium and the expansion of its nuclear enrichment capability and operations,” the EU representative in Vienna said.

The EU praised IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi and his team for their independent monitoring and reaffirmed that ensuring Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon remains a key security priority.

“We call on all countries to support the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015) endorsing the JCPOA, which provides the basis for the IAEA's monitoring and reporting. We regret that Iran has not made the necessary decisions to return to its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA.”

According to the EU, Iran’s uranium enrichment has reached levels that raise significant proliferation concerns. “The DG’s report documents a sharp increase of material enriched at 60% which is now produced at an unprecedented rate, with a 50% increase in the reporting period," the statement said.

"Iran already accumulated more than 6 significant quantities of 60% enriched material [which the Agency defines as the approximate amount of nuclear material for which the possibility of manufacturing a nuclear explosive device cannot be excluded] and is currently producing one significant quantity of highly enriched uranium every month.”

The EU also condemned Iran’s decision to remove JCPOA-related surveillance and monitoring equipment, arguing that it has compromised the IAEA’s ability to verify the nature of Iran’s nuclear activities.

In addition, the EU criticized Iran’s rejection of four additional IAEA inspectors on the back of 2023's ban around one third of the inspectors.

“We echo the DG’s deep regret that Iran, despite having initially accepted to consider it, has finally refused the designation of four additional experienced inspectors recently proposed by the Agency," a statement said.

The United States also said on Tuesday that Iran's accelerating nuclear program is imperiling world peace and either aims to get Tehran closer to a bomb or extort the world to extract concessions.

Tehran denies seeking a nuclear weapon and has branded suspicions over its intentions as a way for outside powers to meddle in internal affairs.

Grossi reported that Iran's uranium stock refined to up to 60% purity grew by 92.5 kilograms (kg) in the past quarter to 274.8 kg. According to an IAEA parameter, the amount is enough in principle for six nuclear bombs if enriched further.

Trump has mooted a deal over the program but Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has ruled out talks while the administration imposes 'maximum pressure' policies including toughened sanctions.