While the E3 Foreign Ministers (Germany, France, United Kingdom) and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy called on Iran, on Monday evening, 11 November, to uphold its commitments under the nuclear deal, Iranians considered that the European Ministers were not upholding theirs.
"Extremely concerned" by the resumption of uranium enrichment activities at the Fordow plant, the Europeans recalled in a joint statement that this was "incompatible with the clear provisions of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) concerning Fordow and could have severe proliferation consequences". "It represents a regrettable acceleration of Iran’s disengagement from commitments under the JCPoA", they denounced.
Earlier today, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that Iran had intensified uranium enrichment, exceeding the stocks authorised by the nuclear deal.
"Iran must return to full implementation of its commitments under the JCPoA without delay", diplomatic leaders warned, saying it is "now essential" that Tehran respect its commitments and work with all participants in the agreement to defuse tensions.
The Ministers and the High Representative therefore urged Tehran "to reverse all measures inconsistent" with the JCPoA, citing the exceeding of maximum allowed low enriched uranium stockpile and the maximum allowed enrichment limits and non-compliance with the limits set by the Agreement on Nuclear Research and Development Activities.
Confirming their determination to pursue all efforts to preserve the nuclear deal, the E3 and the EU considered that they had "have fully upheld their JCPoA commitments, including sanctions-lifting as foreseen under the JCPoA". They expressed their readiness to "consider all mechanisms in the JCPoA, including the dispute resolution mechanism, to resolve the issues related to Iran's implementation of its JCPoA commitments".
"We are in contact with the other JCPoA participants in this regard", they explained. Earlier in the day, the High Representative announced that the Joint Commission could meet "in the coming days".
In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Tuesday, November 12, that the Europeans had failed to uphold their commitments. "Just show ONE that you’ve upheld in the last 18 months", he said on Twitter. He recalled that Iran had "triggered and exhausted the dispute settlement mechanism while you (the Europeans) had procrastinated". "We’re now using para36 remedies" on dispute resolution, he tweeted. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)