Iran breaches JCPOA deal, produces low-enriched uranium beyond the permissible limits
Iran has announced that it has produced low-enriched uranium beyond the permissible limits of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal, which was signed in May 2015.
The United Nations (U.N.’s) nuclear watchdog, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has also confirmed that Iran has exceeded the permissible limit of 300 kgs of uranium. The low-enriched uranium is used in making reactor fuel and nuclear bombs.
Iran said that the move is a retaliatory step after the President of United States (U.S.) – Donald Trump abandoned the deal and reinstated the sanctions.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran – Mohammad Javad Zarif said that the increased stockpile is not a violation of the accord. He mentioned that Iran is simply exercising its right to respond to the U.S. walkout.
He also assured that the move is reversible, provided the European Nations abide by their commitment and protect the Iranian economy from the hard-hitting U.S. sanctions. Iran has accused U.S. of promoting economic terrorism. In April 2019, Trump had said that countries will no longer be exempted from U.S. sanctions if they continue to import oil from Iran. For the records, India, China, Turkey, Japan and South Korea were the biggest benefactors of Iranian oil.
Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted, “We have NOT violated the #JCPOA. Para 36 of the accord illustrates why: We triggered & exhausted para 36 after US withdrawal. We gave E3+2 a few weeks while reserving our right. We finally took action after 60 weeks. As soon as E3 abide by their obligations, we’ll reverse.”
When the press approached Trump for his message to Iran, he said, “No message to Iran. They know what they’re doing. They know what they’re playing with, and I think they’re playing with fire. So, no message to Iran whatsoever.”
The U.S. has asserted that it will continue to apply maximum pressure unless Iran alters its course of action. Earlier on June 20, 2019, a U.S. drone was shot down by Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), over the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. was about to retaliate with military strike when Trump called off the strike 10 minutes prior to scheduled time, as he felt it was unfair to hit 150 lives in exchange of downing of an unmanned drone.
The United Kingdom (U.K.) and Germany have called on Iran to reverse its decision. The move is likely to have far-reaching impact for diplomacy, especially when Donal Trump had recently discussed the U.S.-Iran issue with leaders of the world, during the recently held G20 summit in Osaka.
The U.N. Spokesperson – Stephane Dujarric de la Rivière said, “Such action by the Islamic Republic of Iran would not help preserve the plan, nor secure the tangible economic benefits for the Iranian people.”
The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, U.K. – Jeremy Hunt said, “We want to preserve the pact because we don’t want Iran to have nuclear weapons. But if Iran breaks that deal then we are out of it as well.”
The Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia – Sergei Ryabkov said, “It should be seen as a natural consequence of all the events that preceded these circumstances,” he was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. “Effectively, we are talking about a total oil embargo, an attempt to strangle a sovereign state.”
Besides, the Prime Minister of Israel – Benjamin Netanyahu has called on European parties to reinstate sanctions on Iran which are in line with the agreed JCPOA deal.
As per the terms, the JCPOA deal will fall-out if it is proved that Iran has violated the terms of the deal. After 30 days, any of the other parties would be able to snap back the UN sanctions lifted under Security Council Resolution 2231. Such a move cannot be vetoed.
