Europe and the US warn Iran of further violations

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Iranian nuclear facility Bushehr (archive)

Photo: AP

Germany, France, Great Britain and the USA have warned Iran against further violations of the international nuclear agreement.

The government in Tehran must “fully” comply with the 2015 treaty, the foreign ministers of the four countries declared on Thursday after consultations in Paris.

They called it a "dangerous decision" by Iran to restrict international nuclear inspectors' access to part of its facilities.

The three European foreign ministers and their new American colleague Antony Blinken had previously discussed how Iran policy could be coordinated transatlantically again in the future.

In the declaration, they reaffirmed the common interest in maintaining the nuclear non-proliferation regime and "ensuring that Iran can never develop a nuclear weapon."

They are ready to continue talking to China and Russia on this subject.

With a view to the USA it is emphasized: »If Iran fully complies with its JCPoA obligations again, the USA will catch up.

The US is ready to start talks with Iran. "

Iran should allow controls by the International Atomic Energy Agency again.

The E3 and the US also expressed concern over recent measures by Iran to produce up to 20 percent enriched uranium as well as uranium metal.

"There is no credible civil justification for these measures," it says.

The ministers also called on Iran to release all "arbitrarily detained nationals" of their countries.

Before the meeting, Heiko Maas accused Iran of making it more difficult for the USA to return to the international nuclear deal.

Iran is "apparently not relying on relaxation, but on escalation.

It's playing with fire, ”the SPD politician added.

Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke to Iran's President Hassan Ruhani on the phone on Thursday.

The United States withdrew from the nuclear deal under Trump and imposed sanctions.

The new President Joe Biden has not ruled out a return to the agreement if Tehran adheres to the guidelines.

Iran, on the other hand, calls for the sanctions to be lifted first.

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svv / AFP