Iran steps further away from JCPOA unnerving remaining signatories

After the US removed itself from the historic nuclear deal in 2018 and imposed old and new sanctions on Iran, the remaining signatories have failed to keep the deal alive. Iran has given them time to do so reducing its commitments to the deal in stages.

According to Press TV, on Tuesday President Rouhani announced the commencement of the fourth stage; injecting gas into 1,044 centrifuges at Iran’s Fordow plant.

Rouhani also reiterated that all of the steps Iran has taken so far are reversible and Iran will uphold all of its commitments under the deal when the remaining signatories do the same.

After the epic failure of INSTEX, the Special purpose vehicle they set up to help Iran circumvent US sanctions, China Russia the UK, France and Germany have done little more than express concern and calling on Iran to remain faithful to the deal.

All eyes are now on the IAEA to release a report on the latest developments. Enriched uranium can be used to make reactor fuel but also nuclear weapons. Iran’s Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has made it very clear that the Islamic Republic will never seek to produce nuclear weapons because it goes against its principles.

None the less the US, egged on by Israel, continues to accuse Tehran of doing just that, and threaten Tehran with more stringent sanctions.

ME