Iran on Sunday warned it might retaliate if European powers which have threatened to reimpose nuclear sanctions “exploit” a UN report exhibiting Tehran has stepped up manufacturing of extremely enriched uranium.
The report by the International Atomic Energy Agency stated Iran had sharply elevated its stockpile of uranium enriched to as much as 60%, near the roughly 90% stage wanted for atomic weapons.
Iran’s complete quantity of enriched uranium now exceeds 45 instances the restrict authorised by a landmark 2015 settlement with world powers, and is estimated at 9,247.6 kg, based on the confidential IAEA report.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated in an announcement he had advised IAEA chief Rafael Grossi in a cellphone name that “Iran will respond to any inappropriate action by the European parties” to the 2015 settlement, referring to Britain, France and Germany.
The European trio have warned they may reimpose sanctions if they deemed Iran’s nuclear programme a menace to the continent’s safety.
Mr. Araghchi urged Mr. Grossi of their Saturday name to cease “parties from exploiting” the nuclear watchdog report “to advance their political objectives”, based on the assertion.
The IAEA Board of Governors is ready to evaluation Iran’s nuclear actions in its upcoming quarterly assembly in Vienna beginning June 9.
Iran rejected the IAEA report, the most recent transfer in years-long efforts to limit its nuclear actions over fears that it’s in search of to develop nuclear weapons.
The Islamic republic has denied in search of nuclear arms and says it wants the uranium for civilian energy manufacturing.
The report was leaked as Iran and the United States have been engaged in negotiations in direction of a brand new nuclear deal, after Washington had unilaterally deserted the settlement between Tehran and world powers in 2018, throughout President Donald Trump’s first time period.
U.S. proposal
Mr. Araghchi stated on Saturday that he had acquired “elements” of a U.S. proposal for a possible nuclear deal following 5 rounds of talks mediated by Oman.
Iran would reply “in line with the principles, national interests and rights” of its individuals, Mr. Araghchi added in a publish on X.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the United States “has sent a detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime, and it’s in their best interest to accept it”, the New York Times reported.
The proposal was described as a sequence of bullet factors moderately than a full draft, based on the New York Times, citing officers accustomed to the diplomatic exchanges.
It calls on Iran to cease all enrichment of uranium and proposes making a regional grouping to provide nuclear energy, which would come with Iran, Saudi Arabia and different Arab states, in addition to the United States.
Trump adopted a “maximum pressure” coverage towards Tehran after withdrawing from the 2015 settlement and reimposed sweeping sanctions which the deal had lifted in return for UN-monitored restrictions on Iran’s nuclear actions.
Iran has ramped up its nuclear actions for the reason that collapse of the deal, and is now enriching uranium to 60 p.c — far above the deal’s 3.67 p.c cap however beneath the 90 p.c wanted for weapons-grade materials.
The 2015 deal offers for the likelihood of UN sanctions being reimposed by a mechanism referred to as “snapback” if Iran fails to fulfil its commitments, an possibility that expires in October.
Published – June 01, 2025 10:28 pm IST
