IAEA ‘worried about increasing tensions’ over Iran nuclear issue

Joe Klamar (AFP/File)

IAEA

Iran has threatened to scale back its nuclear commitments if its interests are not met

The UN’s nuclear watchdog said Monday it was “worried about increasing tensions” over Iran’s nuclear drive, after Tehran said it was no longer respecting some limits from a 2015 deal with world powers, and threatened further steps.

“I… hope that ways can be found to reduce current tensions through dialogue,” IAEA director general Yukiya Amano said in a speech.

The 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six major powers — Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States — saw Iran scale down its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

But last year the United State unilaterally withdrew from the deal and reimposed sanction on Iran.

On May 8 Iran announced it no longer considered itself bound to keep to the limits of stocks of heavy water and enriched uranium.

“As I have constantly emphasized, the nuclear-related commitments entered into by Iran under the JCPOA represent a significant gain for nuclear verification,” Amano said in his speech.

“It is essential that Iran fully implements its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA,” he added.

But Iran has voiced frustration with European powers, calling on them to uphold commitments made under the deal and help Iran circumvent US sanctions, while threatening to scale back its nuclear commitments if its interests are not met.