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IRAN-NUCLEAR-DIPLOMACY
Experts from Iran nuclear deal countries meet in Tehran
TEHRAN, June 7, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Experts from the countries still in the
Iran nuclear deal were holding a scheduled meeting in Tehran Thursday, with
the accord hanging in the balance after the United States withdrew.
The closed-door encounter involving representatives from Iran, Britain,
China France, Germany and Russia as well as the European Union had long been
on the cards, but comes as tensions rise after Tehran announced a plan to
boost uranium enrichment capacity.
“It is one of the technical meetings that are held regularly,” a diplomatic
source told AFP, adding that it would focus on economic issues.
The remaining parties to the landmark 2015 deal are scrambling to save the
agreement after US President Donald Trump abandoned it last month.
The US move to reimpose sanctions — lifted under the accord that aims to
ensure Tehran will not develop a nuclear bomb — has already seen many
investors who returned to the country start to wind down operations.
Iran raised pressure on European diplomats seeking to rescue the pact by
announcing Tuesday it has launched a plan to boost uranium enrichment
capacity with new centrifuges.
The European Union said a first assessment indicated the new steps did not
constitute a violation of the agreement, but warned they did “not contribute
to building confidence”.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian warned Iran on Wednesday that
its plan to increase its uranium enrichment capacity took it close to a “red
line”.
Iran insists its nuclear programme is for civilian uses only, but opponents
in the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia accuse it of seeking to build
an atomic bomb.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1350 hrs