The European Union pledged, today, Tuesday, to seek to save the Iranian nuclear deal, following the confirmation of the International Atomic Energy Agency that Tehran had begun enriching uranium to 20 percent.
Union spokesman Peter Stano said that the European bloc took "with great concern" the steps taken by Iran, considering that they represent "a major departure from Iran´s nuclear obligations."
But he also stressed that "strict verification and transparency procedures are still in place" under the agreement.
"We will redouble our efforts to preserve the agreement and get all parties back to fully implement it," Stano said.
The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed on Monday that Iran had begun the process of enriching uranium to 20 percent, a rate much higher than what was stipulated in the nuclear agreement between Tehran and the major powers in 2015.
"Iran began today to enrich uranium enriched by 4.1 percent in six centrifuge sets at the Fordow facility (...) to reach 20 percent," the UN agency said.
This is the latest and most important step for Iran to backtrack on its commitments under the 2015 deal that US President Donald Trump withdrew from in 2018 before reimposing tough sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
The other parties to the agreement, namely the European Union, the United Kingdom, France and Germany, are making strenuous efforts to preserve the agreement, which aims to impose restrictions on Iran´s nuclear program.
