"We, the governments of France, Germany and the United Kingdom have
worked tirelessly to preserve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of
Action (JCPoA). It is a key achievement of multilateral diplomacy
and the global non-proliferation architecture. We negotiated the
JCPoA with the conviction that it would decisively contribute to
building confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s
nuclear programme, as well as to international peace and security.
It remains the best, and currently the only, way to monitor and
constrain Iran’s nuclear programme.
Iran’s recent announcement to the IAEA that it intends to install
an additional three cascades of advanced centrifuges at the Fuel
Enrichment Plant in Natanz is contrary to the JCPoA and deeply
worrying.
Furthermore, we have taken note, with great concern, of the
recent law passed by the Iranian Parliament, which - if
implemented - would substantially expand Iran’s nuclear programme
and limit IAEA monitoring access. The measures would be
incompatible with the JCPoA and Iran’s wider nuclear commitments.
If Iran is serious about preserving a space for diplomacy, it
must not implement these steps. Such a move would jeopardise our
shared efforts to preserve the JCPoA and risks compromising the
important opportunity for a return to diplomacy with the incoming
US Administration. A return to the JCPoA would also be beneficial
for Iran.
We will address Iran’s non-compliance within the framework of the
JCPoA. We welcome the statements by President-elect Biden on the
JCPoA and a diplomatic path to address wider concerns with Iran.
This is in all our interests."
