US, Europe Condemn Iran for Continuing to Develop Nuclear Program 

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi addresses the media during their Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, September 9, 2024. (Reuters)
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi addresses the media during their Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, September 9, 2024. (Reuters)
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US, Europe Condemn Iran for Continuing to Develop Nuclear Program 

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi addresses the media during their Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, September 9, 2024. (Reuters)
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi addresses the media during their Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, September 9, 2024. (Reuters)

The United States, France, Germany and Britian condemned Iran for its lack of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

In a statement on Wednesday, they noted the “continued expansion of Iran’s nuclear activities, in increasing violation” of its commitments to the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

They said the IAEA “recalls once again that it is not able to ensure Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively peaceful, and highlights that Iran is the only state without nuclear weapons to undertake production and accumulation of high enriched uranium.”

Iran “has been blatantly violating all JCPOA limits on both enrichment and accumulation of enriched uranium. Its stockpile of high enriched uranium up to 60 % has continued to grow significantly, without any credible civilian justification.”

“Iran now has almost four IAEA significant quantities of high enriched uranium, which the IAEA defines as the approximate amount of nuclear material from which the possibility of manufacturing a nuclear explosive device cannot be excluded,” continued the statement.

Over the last three months, Iran has also substantially expanded its overall production capacity by installing and operating new advanced centrifuges, it added.

“Iran’s escalating nuclear activities significantly harm international security and undermine the global non-proliferation architecture,” it warned.

“We will continue consultations, alongside international partners, on how best to address collective doubts of the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program,” it vowed.

“We remain committed to a diplomatic solution and stand ready to use all diplomatic levers available to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons,” it stressed.



EU Mulls Steps Against Iran's Aviation Sector

European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell speaks during a press conference in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, 12 September 2024. EPA/WAEL HAMZEH
European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell speaks during a press conference in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, 12 September 2024. EPA/WAEL HAMZEH
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EU Mulls Steps Against Iran's Aviation Sector

European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell speaks during a press conference in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, 12 September 2024. EPA/WAEL HAMZEH
European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell speaks during a press conference in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, 12 September 2024. EPA/WAEL HAMZEH

The European Union is considering sanctions targeting Iran's aviation sector, the bloc's chief diplomat said on Friday in reaction to reports Tehran supplied Russia with ballistic missiles in its war against Ukraine.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said Russia received ballistic missiles from Iran and would likely use them in Moscow's war against Ukraine within weeks, a charge Iran has denied.

"The European Union has repeatedly strongly cautioned Iran against transfers of ballistic missiles to Russia," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement, adding the EU would "respond swiftly and in coordination with international partners.”

Iran's government on Thursday summoned the envoys of Britain, France, Germany and the Netherlands over their accusations that Tehran supplied short-range ballistic missiles to Russia.

State-run IRNA news agency reported that the country’s foreign ministry summoned the envoys separately to strongly condemn the accusations.