European gov'ts warn Iran's latest move has 'grave military implications'

• Published date: 17 January 2021
• Author: LAHAV HARKOV
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

"Iran has no credible civilian use for uranium metal," the group, known as the E3 in the context of the Iran nuclear deal, warned. "The production of uranium metal has potentially grave military implications."

The E3 statement came after Iran notified the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Wednesday that they would begin research on producing uranium metal, which Tehran claimed was meant to provide fuel to a research reactor in Tehran.

The IAEA said: "Iran informed the Agency in a letter on 13 January that 'modification and installation of the relevant equipment for the mentioned R&D activities have been already started.'"

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as the 2015 Iran deal is known, blocked the production or acquisition of plutonium or uranium metal or their alloys for 15 years. Iran would have been able to begin to research producing fuel based on uranium metal in 2025 if the other partners to the agreement would agree to it.

France, Germany and the UK said it is "deeply concerned" by Iran's preparation to produce uranium metal.

"We strongly urge Iran to halt this activity, and return to compliance with its JCPOA commitments without further delay if it is serious about preserving the deal," the E3 said.

Iran's announcement that it would work to produce uranium metal came over a week after Tehran said it would begin enriching uranium up to 20%, going beyond the JCPOA's enrichment limitations.

The US left the Iran deal in 2018, moving to a "maximum pressure" sanctions regime. Iran deal supporters point to the fact that the mullahs' regime began major violations of the JCPOA after the American departure, while the proponents point out that the fact that Iran could jump to violating the deal so drastically – like 20% enrichment – and so easily means that the agreement was not working in the first place.

The US pressure campaign continued on Friday, in the final days of the Trump administration, with the US State Department announcing sanctions on anyone who transfers any of 15 materials used for Iran's nuclear, military or ballistic missiles program. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said "the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps controls Iran's construction sector."

Pompeo also announced sanctions on companies in Iran, China and the United Arab Emirates for working with the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, as well some of their executives.

The US will also sanction Iran's Marine Industries Organization, Aerospace Industries...