UK, France & Germany express concern at Iran's move to install advanced centrifuges at Natanz nuclear plant

London/Berlin: – The Iranian moves to install advanced centrifuges in the Natanz nuclear project are a cause for major concerns. This modification in the nuclear project planned by Iran violates the nuclear deal signed in 2015. The United Kingdom, France and Germany have warned that if Iran is interested in having negotiations regarding the nuclear deal, it will have to stop these activities immediately.

Iran is preparing to avenge the killing of its nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, by increasing the speed of its nuclear program. Last week, a bill for increasing the speed of the nuclear program had been presented in the Iranian parliament. The bill includes provisions like if sanctions imposed on the Iranian fuel and banking sector are not relaxed, Uranium enrichment in the nuclear projects, will be increased. At the same time, the Iranian nuclear projects will be closed for inspection by international observers. This bill has been passed in the Iranian parliament and can be implemented after President Hassan Rouhani signs the bill. Last month’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report regarding the Iranian nuclear program was alarming. As per the report, Iran has installed advanced centrifuges in the Natanz nuclear project and has started processing with these centrifuges. The IAEA had said in the report that this Iranian action is overstepping the limits prescribed in the 2015 nuclear deal.

On Monday, the United Kingdom, France and Germany expressed concerns over the IAEA report and the bill passed in the Iranian parliament. The United Kingdom, France and Germany, known as the E-3 of Europe, said that the Iranian intentions are alarming. E-3 lashed out that the Iranian announcement to install three cascades of advanced centrifuges in the Natanz nuclear project is a clear violation of the 2015 nuclear deal.

All these three countries have taken serious cognisance of Iranian activities in the nuclear program. Also, the European countries pointed out that installation of advanced centrifuges, in the nuclear project, will be a violation of the nuclear deal signed in 2015. The joint statement issued by the European countries warns that if Iran is interested in having fresh negotiations with the new US administration, it will have to withdraw the legislation passed in the last week.

The entire authority is concentrated in the hands of Ayatollah Khamenei, the religious leader of Iran. It was Khamenei, who had announced that the Iranian nuclear program would not stop, despite the assassination of Fakhrizadeh. Khamenei instructed other scientists and officials to regroup and expedite the nuclear program. Meanwhile, the future US President, Joe Biden, has appealed for a new nuclear deal with Iran presenting the demands of the United States. But Iranian Foreign Minister, Jawad Zarif, has put a condition that there can be no negotiations unless the sanctions imposed against Iran are withdrawn.