France: Iran Should Not Worsen Current JCPOA Situation Through Metallic Uranium Production

France’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement regarding Iran’s initiation of metallic uranium production, warning that it constitutes a violation of the JCPOA agreement. France stated that Iran’s move to produce metallic uranium endangers the possibility of negotiations with the United States.

France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, February 11, issued a statement warning Iran and calling on the country to refrain from any actions that would worsen the current situation of the JCPOA nuclear agreement.

France, as one of the signatories to the JCPOA in 2015, expressed concern about Iran’s move to produce metallic uranium, which can have military applications, and considered the Islamic Republic’s action a violation of the JCPOA.

Agnès von der Mühll, spokesperson for France’s Foreign Ministry, citing the latest report from the International Atomic Energy Agency, stated that to preserve the political space and find a diplomatic solution, France requests that Iran refrain from new measures that would worsen the nuclear situation.

The International Atomic Energy Agency announced to member states the day before that new equipment had been installed at the nuclear facilities in Isfahan, and Iran has begun producing metallic uranium since February 8.

Germany, France, and Britain, the European “Troika” signatories to the JCPOA, expressed serious concern about Iran’s activities in this field, pointing to the military uses of metallic uranium.

Russia has also called for Iranian “restraint.”

Under the JCPOA nuclear agreement, Iran committed to not conducting any activities in metallic uranium research and development for 15 years.