The International Atomic Energy Agency has revealed that Iran has followed through on its threat to breach the 2015 nuclear deal,... surpassing its permitted limit on enriched uranium.
The move appears to be Tehran's response to new U.S. sanctions.
Lee Seung-jae reports.
IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano confirmed Monday that Iran has accumulated more enriched uranium than its allowed,... as Tehran followed through on its threat to breach a central limit of its 2015 nuclear deal with major powers.
The agency's inspectors verified that the 300 kilogram cap has been surpassed,... adding that Iran started to step up its production back in May.
The UK has expressed extreme concern over Iran's breach,.... adding it was urgently considering its next steps with its partners.
European nations had previously warned that any violation would bring severe consequences,... as the deal allows for the re-imposition of multilateral sanctions that were lifted in return for Iran limiting its nuclear activities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also voiced his concerns,... and urged Europe to impose "automatic sanctions" on Tehran.
"On this day I also call on all the European countries to stand behind their commitments. You committed to act the moment Iran violates the nuclear agreement, you committed to activate the mechanism for automatic sanctions that was set in the (U.N.) Security Council. Then I say to you: Do it. Just do it."
Iranian state media, citing Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif,... confirmed its breach,... and threatened to continue raising its uranium enrichment.
The minister said the "Europeans had failed to fulfill their promises of protecting Iran's interests under the deal".
However, he noted Iran's measures were "reversible" if the Europeans begin abiding by their promises.
Watchers say Iran is seeking to breach the deal's terms in a step-by-step fashion to pressure the Europeans to resist the pressure of crushing U.S. economic sanctions.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
