ZCZC
BFF-22
IRAN-NUCLEAR-DIPLOMACY
Iran resumes uranium enrichment at Fordow plant in new stepback from deal
TEHRAN, Nov 7, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Iran resumed uranium enrichment at its
underground Fordow plant south of Tehran on Thursday in a new step back from
its commitments under a landmark 2015 nuclear deal.
Engineers began feeding uranium hexafluoride gas into the plant’s
mothballed enrichment centrifuges in “the first minutes of Thursday”, the
statement said.
The suspension of uranium enrichment at the long secret plant was one of
the restrictions Iran had agreed to on its nuclear programme in return for
the lifting of UN sanctions.
Iran’s announcement on Wednesday that it would resume enrichment at the
Fordow plant from midnight (2030 GMT) had drawn a chorus of concern from the
remaining parties to the troubled agreement.
Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia have been trying to salvage the
hard-won deal since Washington abandoned it in May last year and reimposed
crippling unilateral sanctions.
They say Iran’s phased suspension of its obligations under the deal since
May makes that more difficult.
The resumption of enrichment at Fordow is Iran’s fourth move away from the
deal.
Uranium enrichment is the sensitive process that produces fuel for nuclear
power plants but also, in highly extended form, the fissile core for a
warhead.
Iran has always denied any military dimension to its nuclear programme.
It has been at pains to emphasise that all of the steps it has taken are
transparent and swiftly reversible if the remaining parties to the agreement
find a way to get round US sanctions.
“All these activities have been carried out under the supervision of the
International Atomic Energy Agency,” the Iranian nuclear organisation said.
A source close to the UN watchdog told AFP that it has inspectors on the
ground in Fordow and would report “very rapidly” on the steps taken by Iran.
Iran’s latest move comes after the passing of a deadline it set for the
remaining parties to the nuclear agreement to come up with a mechanism that
would allow foreign firms to continue doing business with Iran without
incurring US penalties.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed concern about Tehran’s
announcements but said European powers should do their part.
“They are demanding that Iran fulfil all (obligations) without exception
but are not giving anything in return,” he told reporters in Moscow.
The Kremlin has previously called sanctions against Iran “unprecedented
and illegal”.
– European concern –
French President Emmanuel Macron said Iran had made “grave” decisions and
its resumption of uranium enrichment was a “profound change” from Tehran’s
previous position.
“I will have discussions in the coming days, including with the Iranians,
and we must collectively draw the consequences,” Macron said during a trip to
Beijing.
The next few weeks will be dedicated to increasing pressure on Iran to
return within the framework of the pact, the French president said, adding
that this must be “accompanied by an easing of some sanctions”.
“A return to normal can only take place if the United States and Iran
agree to reopen a sort of trust agenda” and dialogue, Macron said, adding
that he would discuss the issue with Trump.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Britain remained committed to a
negotiated way forward but demanded that Iran abide by its obligations.
“We want to find a way forward through constructive international dialogue
but Iran needs to stand by the commitments it made and urgently return to
full compliance,” he said.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Iran must roll back its decision
to resume uranium enrichment, calling Tehran’s action “unacceptable”.
“We call on Iran to reverse all steps taken since July and return to full
compliance with its commitments,” Maas told reporters in Berlin.
“Our aim is to maintain the nuclear agreement,” he said. “We have always
fully implemented our commitments and Iran must now urgently relent in order
to ease tensions.”
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1402 hrs