Iran warns of retaliation if Europeans make ‘political’ use of UN nuclear reports

Iran warns it will retaliate if European powers “exploit” UN reports showing it has stepped up production of highly enriched uranium and detailing its past secretive nuclear activities.

One of the reports by the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran had sharply increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to up to 60 percent, close to the roughly 90% level needed for atomic weapons.

Iran’s total amount of enriched uranium now exceeds 45 times the limit authorized by a landmark 2015 agreement with world powers, and is estimated at 9,247.6 kilograms, according to the confidential IAEA report.

The other report said Iran carried out secret nuclear activities with material not declared to the UN nuclear watchdog at three locations that have long been under investigation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says in a statement he had told IAEA chief Rafael Grossi in a phone call that “Iran will respond to any inappropriate action by the European parties” to the 2015 agreement, referring to Britain, France and Germany. The European trio has warned they could reimpose sanctions if Iran’s nuclear program threatens the continent’s security.

Araghchi urged Grossi in their call to stop “parties from exploiting” the nuclear watchdog report “to advance their political objectives,” according to the statement.