European External Action Service (EEAS) spokeswoman Maja Kocijančič acknowledged on Tuesday 5 November that preserving the Iranian nuclear agreement was “extremely difficult”, while Iranian President Hassan Rohani announced his intention to resume uranium enrichment activities at his Fordo plant, currently frozen under the Joint Action Plan (JCPOA).
“We are concerned” by this announcement “of an intention to further reduce the country’s commitment” to the agreement, she told reporters. “We urge Iran to reverse all activities incompatible with its commitments under the agreement and to refrain from any measures that would undermine the preservation of its full implementation”, added Ms Kocijančič.
Highlighting the EU’s support for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the spokesperson said that the EU would base its assessment of Iranian activities on the report from this “sole body responsible for verifying Iran’s commitments”.
Ms Kocijančič recalled that the EU was trying to do its utmost to preserve the agreement, but warned that the European commitment depended on Iran’s full compliance. “We remain committed to doing everything in our power to ensure that this agreement is respected. We remain in contact with our partners in this area”, she added. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)