The leaders of the US, UK, France and Germany met on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Rome to discuss Iran’s nuclear program and the restoration of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the 2015 agreement by which Iran agreed to substantial restrictions on its nuclear program in return for the lifting of international sanctions. In a 7-paragraph joint statement issued afterwards, the four leaders expressed their determination not to allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons and alarm that Iran’s has proceeded with “provocative steps” such as the production of highly enriched uranium (60 percent, still short of the weapons grade level of 90-plus percent purity) and the fabrication of uranium metal, both of which, it says are unnecessary for a civilian nuclear program. At the same time, Iran has slowed its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
“The current situation underscores the importance of a negotiated solution that provides for the return of Iran and the U.S. to full compliance with the JCPOA and provides the basis for continued diplomatic engagement to resolve remaining points of contention – both our concerns and Iran’s,” the four leaders said. “We are convinced that it is possible to quickly reach and implement an understanding on return to full compliance and to ensure for the long term that Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes.”
