Iran is increasing its production of enriched uranium, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed. Last month, Iran announced that it would scale back some of the commitments it made under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, as a result of which the country’s stockpiles should start exceeding the caps specified in the agreement. The IAEA is not sure when Iran will exceed the maximum amount of enriched uranium the country is allowed to store.
The IAEA called for dialogue to reduce US-Iran tensions, which have dramatically increased since the US abandoned the nuclear deal last year and reimposed sanctions on the country. The situation has further escalated in recent weeks after the US increased sanctions. Iran said that the situation can only improve if the “economic war by America” is stopped and warned that “those who wage such wars cannot expect to remain safe.” During a visit to Tehran, the German minister of foreign affairs expressed concerns that the tensions between the US and Iran may lead to a military confrontation.
The European signatories to the Iran deal (Britain, France and Germany) are working on a payment system that will allow for indirect trade between Iranian firms and companies from other countries as a way of circumventing US sanctions on the country. Europe is hoping that such a system will keep Iran committed to the agreement.
Read more: Iran has increased production of enriched uranium – IAEA
